Reza Pahlavi: “The Islamic Republic is the cause of Iran’s current crisis”
Reza Pahlavi, in a message addressed to the people of Iran, particularly residents of southern provinces, described the Islamic Republic as the sole cause of the current crisis and war, emphasizing: “The real war, that is, the Islamic Republic’s war against the Iranian nation, began forty-seven years ago.” While calling on people to prioritize their lives and security, he spoke of a vision for a free Iran with development and prosperity for all provinces.
Reza Pahlavi, following increased military tensions and concerns about the expansion of attacks on southern regions of Iran, issued a message addressed to the Iranian people, particularly citizens of Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan provinces, as well as residents of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea coasts. He held the Islamic Republic directly responsible for the country’s current situation and urged people to prioritize protecting their lives and security.
In part of this message, he introduced the Islamic Republic as the primary cause of Iran’s current wars and crises, stating: “Today, with escalating tensions and the possibility of expanding attacks, particularly in the south of the country, I want to speak with you; especially with the honorable people of Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, and all residents of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea coasts.
The war and crisis that our country faces today has only one cause and sponsor: the Islamic Republic regime. However, the real war, that is, the Islamic Republic’s war against the Iranian nation, began forty-seven years ago and has continued to this day.”
Reza Pahlavi, referring to the situation of southern provinces, emphasized that these regions have been grappling with poverty, deprivation, and lack of basic infrastructure for years, and one should not think they have only recently become entangled in crisis.
He stated in this regard: “The entire Iranian nation has been wounded by this regime. Do not let them say that southern Iran has only recently entered the war. Southern Iran entered the war from the day when Baluch children became victims of gangrene due to lack of drinking water and basic infrastructure; from the day when in Sistan and Baluchestan, the land of Rostam and the heart of Iran’s legends, young people were forced into fuel smuggling to make a living; from the day when Hormozgan province and Bandar Abbas, Iran’s largest port, were left in poverty and deprivation; from the day when Bushehr, supplier of a large portion of the country’s gas, and Khuzestan, the heart of Iran’s oil industry, remained deprived of their own wealth.”
He also outlined a vision for Iran’s future after the Islamic Republic, stating that with the establishment of a national, efficient, and development-oriented government, southern provinces could become economic, commercial, and tourism hubs in the region. He cited the capacity of Chabahar, southern ports, oil and gas industries, and domestic and foreign investment as opportunities that, according to him, have been neglected under the Islamic Republic’s policies.
In another section of his message, Reza Pahlavi accused the Islamic Republic of using non-military centers for military purposes, stating: “This warmongering regime has created no shelter for its people and lacks the ability to defend the country’s airspace. While its leaders hide underground, they use schools, hospitals, and other civilian centers for military purposes and have turned the Iranian people, including conscripts, into human shields in barracks.”
Finally, he called on people to consider protecting their lives, security, and health, as well as that of their families, as their most important priority, adding: “In the war that the Islamic Republic has imposed on the country, your first and most important duty is to protect your lives, security, and health and that of your families. Because you are Iran’s capital and the true soldiers in the struggle to reclaim the homeland.”
These remarks were released at a time when, coinciding with escalating military tensions in the region, concerns about security and humanitarian consequences in Iran have also increased. In recent years, critics of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly held this government responsible for exacerbating domestic and regional crises, believing that Islamic Republic policies have imposed heavy costs on Iranian citizens’ lives, in addition to international isolation. In contrast, Islamic Republic officials have rejected these accusations and described their policies as being within the framework of preserving security and national interests. This section has been added to maintain news balance and reflect the views of different parties.
