Iranian dissidents have argued that the recent bombings by the country's ruling regime will not overthrow them, despite the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), head of foreign policy at the group, Mohammad Mohaddesin, stated that even if they have 50,000 armed soldiers on the ground, they need the support of Iranian people to overthrow the regime. The group, which was listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States until 2012, is banned in Iran and supported by monarchists backing Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the toppled shah. Despite acknowledging that his group alone could bring down the system, Mohadesin warned that mass protests would resume once bombing stopped.