Regarding Reuel Marc Gerecht’s “The Secular Republic of Iran” (op-ed, Jan. 5) describing the current Iranian government: In Great Neck, where I live, thousands of Iranians have settled with their families after escaping from the brutal, current regime. My son married an Iranian refugee whose family barely escaped being murdered. Fortunately, our country permitted these fine, productive people to live in America, in peace.

Mr. Gerecht, however, has overlooked a key component necessary to effectuate future regime change in Iran. A leader in the diaspora needs to emerge or some group must form in exile that is perceived able to replace those now in power. At the moment there is no potential leader nor any publicly recognized active group within Iran or outside of Iran to replace the current leadership. That is a key reason the latest uprising failed and future uprisings will, sadly, continue to fail. The extant Iranian regime is too cruel and too willing to do anything and everything to prevent change.

The late Shah Reza Pahlavi was overthrown because a credible replacement, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, albeit living in Paris, was ready to lead Iran and had de facto recognition from those in the Iranian streets.

Such a leader must emerge to give young Iranians hope and direction for a credible change. A peaceful, democratic change will never take place in Iran. And a new revolution cannot happen unless there is a potential replacement.

Martin H. Sokol