Reference Document of the Provisional Preparatory Council of the Progressive Iranians Party

1. Introduction

This document is prepared to explain the nature, status, structure, principles of operation, and activity mechanisms of the «Provisional Preparatory Council of the Progressive Iranians Party».

The Provisional Preparatory Council is a transitional institution in the process of founding the party, and its duty is to provide the necessary organizational, political, media, and executive infrastructures for the formal establishment of the party and the holding of its first General Assembly.

This document is formulated within the framework of the principles and orientations set forth in the White Paper of the Progressive Iranians Party. The White Paper is considered the interpretive reference and basis for all party documents and mechanisms.

Furthermore, the foundation of the council's structural design is based on the party's strategic documents regarding network organization, power distribution, and the prevention of structural centralization.

The principles of equal participation, gender equality, and the prevention of the reproduction of concentrated power or the formation of closed and exclusive structures must also be observed in all the council's mechanisms.

The purpose of this document is to create a clear framework for the activities of the Preparatory Council so that the process of party formation proceeds transparently, in an organized manner, securely, and in accordance with the principles of the White Paper.

2. Nature of the Provisional Preparatory Council

The Provisional Preparatory Council is a pluralistic, voluntary, and committed collective of activists from Iranian society who have gathered around an agreement on the principles and values stated in the party's White Paper, and membership in this council does not mean membership in the Progressive Iranians Party.

The goal of this council is to provide the necessary conditions for the formation of a modern, program-oriented, and institutionalized political party that can play an effective role in Iran's transition path toward a democratic and rights-based order.

The Preparatory Council is a temporary and transitional institution whose mission is to transfer the «Progressive Iranians Party» project from the initial design and organization stage to the stage of the party's formal establishment and the formation of its first General Assembly.

At the current stage, this council undertakes the following duties:

• Creating the initial organizational infrastructures of the party
• Creating media and communication platforms
• Expanding the network of cooperation and social support
• Designing initial mechanisms for party formation
• Preparing the preliminary arrangements for the party's first General Assembly

The council's activities will continue until the necessary conditions for forming the first General Assembly and establishing the official organs of the party are provided.

3. Indicators and Criteria for the Formation of the Preparatory Council

The members of the Provisional Preparatory Council have gathered based on a set of agreed-upon principles and criteria.

The most important of these indicators are:

Adherence to the fundamental principles set forth in the White Paper of the Progressive Iranians Party

Acceptance of the principles of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and opposition to any form of tyranny, authoritarianism, or monopoly

Adherence to the principles of equal participation and gender equality, and striving to prevent the reproduction of patriarchal or exclusive structures within the political organization

Political and institutional independence from undemocratic power structures

Council members must lack any affiliation or cooperation with the following:

• Current or past connection or affiliation with the repressive institutions of the Islamic Republic, including the Basij, the IRGC, revolutionary courts, foundations related to the Velayat-e Faqih, intelligence and security institutions, and so on.
• Connection or affiliation with repressive structures in the pre-Islamic Republic tyrannical regime (SAVAK)
• Connection or affiliation with any security, intelligence, or military institution affiliated with any foreign government

Additionally, council members must possess individual and social credibility from a professional and ethical standpoint, and their adherence to democratic principles must be reliable. The purpose of these criteria is to guarantee the political independence, institutional health, and ethical credibility of the party formation process.

Members of the Preparatory Council must also have a general and principled agreement on the White Paper document, the reference documents regarding equal participation and gender equality, the operational strategy, and the transition guide, which are documents derived from the White Paper.

4. Fundamental Principles of the Council's Activities

The activities of the Provisional Preparatory Council are based on several fundamental principles:

Democratic Institution-Building

The goal of the council is to create a sustainable and democratic political institution, not to concentrate power in the hands of individuals or limited circles.

Anti-Concentration of Power

The council's structure is designed in such a way that decisions are made within a collective and transparent framework.

Collective Responsibility

The decisions and orientations of the council are the result of consultation and cooperation among its members.

Organizational Agility

The council's structure is designed to be able to act with sufficient speed and flexibility under changing political conditions.

Network Security

Considering the political conditions in Iran, preserving the security of communications, information, network members, and its internal discussions is one of the fundamental principles of the council's activities.

5. Structure of the Provisional Preparatory Council

The structure of the Provisional Preparatory Council is based on two organizational levels:

1. Coordination Working Group

2. Executive Working Groups

This structure is designed to guarantee both organizational cohesion and operational agility.

6. Coordination Working Group

The Coordination Working Group is the organizational backbone of the Preparatory Council and bears the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and protecting the party's vital organizational infrastructures.

The duties of this working group include the following:

• Designing the organizational and structural infrastructures of the party
• Creating and maintaining communication and cyber infrastructures
• Designing network security mechanisms
• Drafting regulations and executive frameworks of the council in compliance with the White Paper
• Coordination among the council's executive working groups
• Regulating and publishing official documents during the preparatory stage
• Guiding the process of completing the party formation mechanisms

The Coordination Working Group is also responsible for maintaining network security infrastructures and protecting organizational information.

Due to the specialized and infrastructural nature of its duties, the Coordination Working Group will not be dissolved with the end of the Provisional Preparatory Council's activities.

The continuation of this working group's activities and the potential transfer of its responsibilities to the official structures of the party are only possible if:

• Alternative mechanisms have been defined in the official structure of the party
• Necessary educational and security processes have been completed
• This transfer is carried out under the supervision of an independent oversight council

7. Executive Working Groups

Executive working groups are formed based on the practical needs of the council and in consideration of the expertise and capacities of the members.

These working groups may operate in areas such as the following:

• Media and Communications
• Organizational Development
• Recruitment and Networking
• International Relations
• Communications Strategy and Political Campaigns
• Research and Policy Production
• Political Education
• Support and Financial Affairs

The executive working groups enjoy operational autonomy within their sphere of activity.

The activities of these working groups must be carried out within the framework of the party's fundamental principles, the council's organizational frameworks, and in coordination with the macro-structure.

8. Separation of Institutional and Operational Levels

To preserve network agility and security, the council's activities are defined at two levels.

The institutional level includes:

• Designing organizational mechanisms
• Drafting official documents
• Maintaining security infrastructures
• Managing organizational information

This level falls within the responsibility of the Coordination Working Group.

The operational level includes activities carried out in the executive working groups, including:

• Media activity
• Social and political communications
• Content production and drafting of key required documents and submitting them to the Coordination Working Group
• Supporting the Coordination Working Group and participating in networking and organizational development in the diaspora and inside the country

9. The Principle of Minimum Information Concentration

To protect network security, the principle of «minimum information concentration» is observed.

Based on this principle:

• Access to organizational information is defined based on the needs of each responsibility
• No individual or working group (except the Coordination Working Group, which is responsible for infrastructure, network security, and information) has access to all network information
• Sensitive information is kept at restricted levels

The management of network security and information infrastructures falls within the responsibility of the Coordination Working Group.

10. The Council's Relationship with the Independent Oversight Council

During the preparatory stage, the Independent Oversight Council is formed temporarily upon the introduction of the Preparatory Council.

This council is an institution independent of the executive structure of the Preparatory Council, and its duty is to oversee the council's adherence to the fundamental principles of the White Paper and to prevent deviations from these principles.

The Preparatory Council is obligated to review the warnings and corrective recommendations of the Independent Oversight Council and take corrective actions if necessary.

With the formation of the party's first General Assembly, the composition and term of office of the Independent Oversight Council will be determined by the General Assembly.

11. Authority of Official Documents and Stances

During the preparatory stage:

• Drafting and publishing official party documents is the responsibility of the Coordination Working Group
• These documents are prepared in consultation with the members of the Preparatory Council and in compliance with the White Paper
• The reference framework for all documents is the principles set forth in the party's White Paper, and the Independent Oversight Council monitors and oversees them

After the formation of the party's General Assembly, the process of drafting and approving documents will be carried out in accordance with the official mechanisms of the party.

12. Boundary of Party Activities with Networks Inside the Country

The Progressive Iranians Party distinguishes between organized political activity and activism inside the country.

Accordingly:

• The party does not create any operational structure inside the country
• Cells inside the country are independent and autonomous and are formed in connection with the Coordination Working Group, which is tasked with providing security infrastructure and protecting information.
• The Preparatory Council only plays a role as political representation in the areas of analysis, education, legal support, international communications, and presenting strategic proposals under conditions where political unblocking occurs

This distinction is essential for preserving the security of activists inside the country.

13. Media Communication Policy

Communication with the media during the preparatory stage is conducted based on the following principles:

• Transparency in introducing the party's principles and goals
• Avoiding exaggerated claims or exclusive representation of society
• Adherence to the frameworks determined in the party documents

Official party stances are announced solely through official documents, statements, or representatives (spokespersons) introduced by the council.

14. Transition from the Preparatory Council to the Official Party Structure

With the formation of the party's first General Assembly:

• The Provisional Preparatory Council as a transitional structure comes to an end
• Its activities will be integrated into the official structure of the party
• Council members can, if they wish, register as party members and run for membership in the Coordination Council or specialized working groups

15. Confidentiality and Security of Cooperation

Considering the political conditions of Iran and the necessity of protecting the security of members and collaborators, the Provisional Preparatory Council is committed to observing the principles of confidentiality and network security.

All council members, prior to participating in activities, commit to observing the principles of confidentiality, protecting sensitive information, and safeguarding the security of individuals and the council's communication structures.

This commitment includes the following:

• Protecting the identity of non-public members or collaborators
• Not publishing or transferring internal council information without official authorization
• Protecting information related to the council's communication, organizational, and security infrastructures
• Observing the principle of minimum information disclosure in public communications

The confidentiality commitment is not limited to the period of membership in the council and remains valid even after the end of membership or the conclusion of the Provisional Preparatory Council's activities.

This principle is essential for protecting the security of individuals, preventing harm to the cooperation network, and reducing risks resulting from pressure or threats by repressive structures or other malicious actors.

At the same time, the implementation of the confidentiality principle must always take place within the framework of fundamental principles of human rights, individual rights, and legal standards, and it cannot be used as a tool to conceal violations, infringe upon individual rights, or prevent the reporting of violations of the party's fundamental principles.