Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday (April 22), calling for the EU to condemn Iran. The rally, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), took place just a day before EU leaders are meant to meet in Cyprus for a summit.

EU leaders plan to address the conflict in Iran and the Middle East at the summit. Regional partners in the Middle East are expected to attend as well.

"The protesters expect the EU to condemn the regime's wave of executions unequivocally and explicitly," NCRI spokesperson Shahin Gobadi told Reuters. The group also calls for the EU to expel Iran's ambassador from European countries.

The NCRI, also known by its Farsi name Mujahideen-e-Khalq, is banned in Iran, and it is unclear how much support it has there. However, along with its bitter rival, the monarchists backing Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the toppled shah, it is one of the few opposition groups able to rally supporters.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION GROUP 'NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN' PROTESTING IN FRONT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO CALL THE EU FOR ACTION AGAINST IRAN AHEAD OF EU SUMMIT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (APRIL 22, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING AND WAVING FLAGS AT RALLY ORGANISED BY OPPOSITION GROUP 'NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN'

2. CHILD SITTING ON PERSON'S SHOULDERS AND WAVING FLAG / CROWD OF PROTESTERS WITH FLAGS

3. OLD IRANIAN FLAG IN FRONT OF EU PARLIAMENT BUILDING

4. PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 'NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN' SPOKESPERSON, SHAHIN GOBADI, SAYING:

"Just one day before the EU summit, the protesters expect the EU to condemn the (Iranian) regime's wave of executions unequivocally and explicitly. We want them to expel the regime's ambassador from European countries. We want them to guarantee free internet to the protesters in Iran and to the Iranian people in general. And we want them to recognize the provisional government declared by the National Council of Resistance of Iran."

6. WOMAN HOLDING FLAG AT PROTEST

7. VARIOUS OF WOMAN SPEAKING AT PODIUM

8. PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS AND LISTENING TO SPEAKER

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 'NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN' SPOKESPERSON, SHAHIN GOBADI, SAYING:

"As you know, the ceasefire was extended yesterday. When the ceasefire was announced two weeks ago, madam Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI, very much welcomed it and expressed hope that this will lead to a long-lasting peace. But the reality shows us that you will not have long-lasting peace as long as you have this regime. So it's quite evident that we need the regime changed by the Iranian people, who on the one hand, obviously are living in full anxiety because of the war. At the same time, they are repressed by this regime and this wave of execution is quite evident."

10. PROTESTERS CHANTING AND WAVING FLAGS

11. WOMAN SPEAKING INTO MICROPHONE / DISPLAY OF PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE KILLED BY IRANIAN REGIME

12. DISPLAY OF PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE KILLED BY IRANIAN REGIME

13. RED FLOWERS ON GROUND