Prince Reza Pahlavi: Metropol Tower Collapse is Sign of ‘Deep Corruption and Incompetence of the Islamic Republic’

Hours after the collapse of the twin Metropol tower in Abadan, Prince Reza Pahlavi described the incident as “indicative of the deep corruption and incompetence of the Islamic Republic” and said he is “sharing the grief of the people of Abadan and bereaved families.”

Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote in a tweet: “Abadan, which was once a symbol of the development of our country, is now 44 years after the Rex Cinema crime, a symbol of the oppression that these Iranian criminals have brought upon Iran and Iranians.”

The Rex Cinema fire incident in Abadan on August 19, 1978, resulted in the death of hundreds of people and increased public anger. Opponents of the Shah blamed the government apparatus for the fire and the deaths of moviegoers, but after decades, Mohsen Safaei Farahani, one of Iran’s reformist figures, stated in an interview that “the Rex Cinema crime in Abadan was not committed by the Shah’s regime; the perpetrators of this crime became parliament representatives after the revolution.”

While some citizens remain trapped under the rubble on Amiri Street in Abadan, video reports indicate that the main eastern column of the Metropol tower is separating, and the danger of collapse of other sections of this 10-story building continues to threaten Abadan residents.

Reports also indicate the deployment of riot police at the scene of the incident and restrictions on entry and exit.

A large group of Abadan citizens, after the collapse of the Metropol twin tower, which according to reports was built without observing safety standards through bribery and embezzlement, held a protest rally and chanted: “Abadan is without a master, today is the day of mourning.”

So far, six deaths and 35 injuries have been reported in this incident, and some citizens remain trapped under the rubble.