Reza Pahlavi in Brussels Seeking European Support for Iranian People

Reza Pahlavi announced his trip to Brussels through a message posted on his official pages, stating he is working to convey the demands of the Iranian people to European leaders and lawmakers. He also claimed that the Telegram campaign “Barkhiz Iran” (Rise Iran) received hundreds of thousands of messages from inside the country in a short period of time.

In this message, Reza Pahlavi described his Brussels trip as an effort to gain European political support for opponents of the Islamic Republic, stating his goal is to amplify the voice of Iranians who, according to him, are standing against the repression and violence of the Iranian government.

In an important section of his message, he defended the launch of the “Barkhiz Iran” Telegram bot and claimed that the Islamic Republic attempted to prevent people from joining the campaign by spreading false information; however, this effort failed. According to Pahlavi, the bot received hundreds of thousands of messages from various segments of society, including students, teachers, doctors, workers, soldiers, and police officers in a short time.

However, the number of messages received, the extent of actual participation by citizens inside Iran, and how duplicate or automated messages are distinguished from independent ones have not been verified by any independent institution so far. Therefore, the announced figure should be considered a statistic presented by Reza Pahlavi’s team rather than one independently confirmed.

This message was released following Reza Pahlavi’s trip to Belgium, which began on Tuesday, November 3 (Aban 12). During the trip, he met with several European Parliament representatives. According to Iran International’s report, Pahlavi met on Wednesday with David McAllister, chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, to discuss the possibility of imposing further sanctions against the Islamic Republic and supporting free internet access for Iranians.

He also called for a change in European policy toward the Islamic Republic in an article published in the Brussels Times and outlined five axes for action by European lawmakers: identifying and blocking hidden assets of officials and government-affiliated networks, expelling agents and networks linked to the Islamic Republic, providing financial support for free internet access tools, offering political support for political prisoners and protesters sentenced to death, and creating opportunities for officials who break away from the government to join the people.

However, his trip to Belgium was not without controversy. Belgian news network BX1 reported that the country’s Foreign Ministry took a cautious stance regarding the formal invitation of Pahlavi to parliament, emphasizing the need to hear other voices of Islamic Republic opponents. According to the same report, the Belgian government stated it does not provide preferential support to any particular person or group among Iran’s opponents. Ultimately, the meeting with Pahlavi took place within the framework of the Liberal Party MR parliamentary group session, rather than as an official session on behalf of the entire parliament.

These disagreements indicate that even among European politicians opposed to the Islamic Republic, there is no complete consensus on how to engage with opposition figures and the extent of their political representation.

One of the main axes of Reza Pahlavi’s new message is an invitation to citizens to communicate directly with his team through the “Barkhiz Iran” Telegram bot. He has emphasized that protecting user security is the top priority of this campaign.

Given the security conditions and the government’s extensive surveillance of citizens’ communications in Iran, the issue of protecting user information is of particular importance. However, in independent sources reviewed for this report, sufficient technical details about how messages are stored, how team members access user information, how long data is retained, and the practical mechanisms for protecting participants’ identities have not been published. Consequently, the campaign organizers’ emphasis on user security alone cannot substitute for the publication of transparent and verifiable information about privacy and digital security.

Reza Pahlavi’s message, beyond inviting participation in a communication campaign, carries an important political claim: he presents himself as committed to leading efforts for Iran’s freedom and asks people to join a campaign whose goal he has stated as toppling the Islamic Republic and building a free and prosperous future.

At the same time, in his article in the Brussels Times, he spoke of a coalition that, according to him, can include republicans and monarchists, left and right movements, and citizens with different languages, religions, and backgrounds. He listed four principles for this coalition: preserving Iran’s territorial integrity, separating religion from government, individual rights for all citizens, and the right of people to choose the form of government through free and fair elections.

These principles, if transformed into a clear and measurable program, could serve as a basis for dialogue about Iran’s political future; however, the degree of their acceptance among different segments of the opposition and how equal participation of all groups will be ensured is a matter requiring further clarification and explanation.

At a time when Iranian society faces political repression, economic crisis, limitations on civil liberties, and concerns about the future, any political campaign seeking to gain citizens’ trust must, beyond inviting participation, also provide clear answers about decision-making methods, transparency, information security, and guarantees of the people’s right to free choice.

The full text of Prince Reza Pahlavi’s message, published on his official pages, is as follows:

“My dear compatriots,

I have come to Brussels to convey your message and demands to the leaders, lawmakers, and public opinion of Europe, the voice of a nation that has courageously and steadfastly stood against the repression and violence of the Islamic Republic and has not surrendered to this criminal regime.

In its latest disinformation campaign, the Islamic Republic attempted to prevent you from joining the “Barkhiz Iran” Telegram bot by spreading false information, but this effort also failed. Shortly after its introduction, we received hundreds of thousands of messages from across the country through this bot. From students, teachers, and doctors to workers, soldiers, police officers, and other segments of society.

We launched this campaign to create direct and two-way communication with you, and the widespread reception to it carries a clear message: the will of the Iranian people is unbreakable.

Our nation, with all its diversity and variety, seeks liberation from the Islamic Republic and is fighting and paying for it. This nation does not fear the regime; on the contrary, it is the Islamic Republic that fears the power of a united Iranian people. It is this regime’s missing leader who is hiding in fear of the people and does not even dare to make a sound.

You, my honorable compatriots, have once again proven that contrary to regime propaganda, not only have you not become tired and discouraged, but your faith in victory is stronger than ever.

I am proud of your courage, perseverance, and loyalty to Iran. You have stood by your covenant with the homeland in the most difficult days. I too have stood by my covenant with you for Iran’s freedom and glory.

Once again, I invite all of you compatriots who believe in toppling the Islamic Republic and building a free and prosperous future to join the National Cooperation Campaign for Iran’s Rescue.

You can contact my team directly by scanning the QR code during the live broadcast of Iran’s National Revolution Television and Iran International network, or through the Telegram ID @BarkhiziranBot. Rest assured that protecting your security is my and my team’s top priority in this campaign.

We want for ourselves and future generations a free, advanced, and proud Iran, an Iran that once again reclaims its rightful place in the world. I believe in this future because I believe in you and your unbreakable will. The light of Iran will triumph over the darkness of the Islamic Republic.

Long live Iran, Reza Pahlavi”