Prince Reza Pahlavi: Stand Beside Me and Each Other for a Noble Ideal
Prince Reza Pahlavi said in his speech at the Munich conference: “Stand beside me and beside each other for a noble ideal.”
The press office of Prince Reza Pahlavi published the full text of the Prince’s speech on Saturday, July 26, after he delivered remarks about Iran’s situation at the “National Cooperation for Saving Iran” conference and called on people to join this national campaign. This came following the joining of many other Iranians inside and outside the country to the national cooperation campaign.
Before beginning his speech at this conference, Prince Pahlavi, while referring to his activities in the period following the Islamic Revolution, that is, the past 45 years, said: “My dear compatriots! Before I begin my remarks, I must say that the reason I have undertaken this work for 45 years was only with one goal (the return to the sovereignty of the people and the Iranian nation’s right to self-determination for a future democracy through free elections and the ballot box).
Now I want to emphasize that I am honored that you have such feelings, confidence, and faith in me; but know that for me the best possible title is the title of father that you have given me, and to be a father requires no other position or title.
Therefore, since we do not now have a ballot box to conduct elections, democrats of Iran, whether republicans or monarchists, have a duty to first create the atmosphere of freedom and free elections for Iran. Thus the voting rights of all will be preserved. First we will liberate the country and establish that ballot box, and then we will allow the Iranian nation, in the strict sense of the word, to choose their own future with their own hands.”
Reza Pahlavi began his remarks about this national campaign at the National Cooperation for Saving Iran conference as follows:
“Ladies and Gentlemen!
Greetings to you and to all those who are following this national conference from the four corners of the world, especially in Iran. I thank all my compatriots who came to Munich from across Europe and even from Australia to North America this past weekend and shouted their love for Iran in the streets of this city. I welcome the many of you who have recently joined this national cooperation campaign.
What has brought all of us together here is love for Iran and the importance we attach to Iran’s future. We are here today to show that our nation is united yet diverse, from different religions and beliefs, ethnicities and tribes, classes and groups, and different political parties and inclinations, republicans and monarchists, left and right, united in one common goal, and that goal is: “Ending the Islamic Republic regime and beginning a new dawn of freedom, democracy, and flourishing for our homeland Iran.”
Your presence at this gathering represents the formation of the broadest and most diverse coalition of Iranian opposition forces. This breadth and diversity, while united with commitment and belief in Iran’s territorial integrity, individual rights and equality of citizens, separation of religion from government, and the great Iranian nation’s right to choose the form of democracy for its future, is a beautiful picture of a free and prosperous Iran tomorrow. But unfortunately, the picture of Iran today is very different from that free and prosperous tomorrow. Today, Iran’s existence is in greater danger than ever because of the continuation of the Islamic Republic.
This regime has driven Iran’s water, soil, air, sky, lives, and wealth toward the abyss of destruction. Iran’s rivers are dry, Iran’s soil is eroding, Iran’s land is subsiding, Iran’s air is polluted, Iran’s sky is under the control of a foreign power, Iran’s economy is in free fall, Iranians’ homes are without water and electricity, and their lives are the plaything of an anti-Iranian sectarian delusion and its unwise leader.”
While referring to proxy wars supported by the Islamic Republic, he added: “After years of dragging the region into turmoil with proxy wars and the failed policy of ‘neither negotiation nor war,’ the Islamic Republic ultimately was forced to negotiate from a position of weakness and surrender, and also imposed war on Iran.
Ali Khamenei, while hiding underground, not only made the slightest effort to protect Iranian civilians, but also employed all his apparatus of repression and propaganda to intimidate the people. He imposed a severe and humiliating defeat on the Iranian military. Military personnel, most of whom were unwillingly drawn into a war that was never Iran’s and the Iranian nation’s war; rather, it was Khamenei’s war and the war of his repressive and terrorist Revolutionary Guards leaders. Those very Pasdaran who chanted boastfully for years, but it became clear they did not even have the ability to protect themselves.
After decades of stealing from the people’s table and putting it in their own pockets and those of regional terrorists, they completely placed the country’s sky under the control of a country far smaller and less populous than Iran. The Islamic Republic has completely abandoned the management of the country except in the area of repression, and Iranians in the hot summer face hours of cuts in water, electricity, and gas. Inflation is raging and the business cycle is disrupted, and Ali Khamenei is the one responsible for this situation. He is the one who has step by step brought our homeland to this point, and today, as always, he has fled from the burden of responsibility and laid the blame at the feet of his subordinates.
Disagreements and feuds in the Islamic Republic’s power structure have reached their peak. Senior officials of this regime, without the slightest popular support, are busy scheming against each other, and in presenting themselves as an alternative to Khamenei through the mediation of regional and global powers, they are racing ahead of one another.”
Prince Pahlavi added at this conference about Iran’s situation and the best opportunity for regime change: “My compatriots! We, the Iranian nation, are not warmongers and have never wanted war for Iran and our region. The warmonger is Ali Khamenei and the regime under his command. I warned several years ago that if the Islamic Republic remained, if appeasement with it continued, and if the world gave in to its extortions, this regime would ultimately drag Iran and the region into war and military conflict. Unfortunately, my concerns came to pass.
But now a historic moment has arrived. The Islamic Republic has become weaker and more unstable than at any other time in these 46 years, and an unprecedented opportunity has been created for the Iranian people to overthrow this anti-Iranian regime.
The duty of every patriotic Iranian is to make tremendous efforts to save our homeland. Our duty is to be more united, more determined, and more organized than ever. Today is not the time for ifs and buts, it is not the time for sitting on the sidelines and playing the middle ground so that neither the skewer burns nor the meat cooks, today the stage is clear.
On one side stands the Islamic Republic and all its big and small supporters dragging our Iran toward the most horrific parts of hell, and on the other side is a door toward light and the rebuilding of the paradise of Iran.
We, the majority of the great Iranian nation, have come to the field to save our homeland. The fall of this regime is certain. We have come to prevent this regime from taking Iran and our great nation with it into the abyss of nonexistence. Iran’s liberation from the Islamic Republic and the establishment of a national and democratic government in Iran will also bring lasting peace to our region.
At this stage of the national revolution and the transition period, my goal is to enable Iranians to, in a short term and through free elections, place the affairs of state in the hands of their elected government. As I have said many times, I am not seeking political position and office, but rather I want to provide space and structure for those seeking to serve the nation and restore Iran’s lost glory to be able to present themselves and their programs to the national vote in a democratic process.
I have been fighting for 45 years not for personal benefit and power, but to save Iran, and I have plans to achieve our goals. Both to take Iran back from this Dhaka regime and to rebuild that land of Ahura.
Five months ago in the first Munich meeting, Iranian organizations and parties came together and committed to cooperate within the framework of 12 principles based on a five-point program. In my Nowruz message, I also called this year the year of organization for final action.”
Prince Reza, regarding the strategy of the National Cooperation for Saving Iran campaign and the progress of this project, said: “Today in the second Munich meeting, from participants, not just political parties and groups, but Iranians from all walks of society, I am presenting to the Iranian nation a report on the progress of that program.
The five pillars of our agreed upon strategy are as follows:
1. Maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic
2. Maximum support for the Iranian nation
3. Maximum collapse of the regime
4. Maximum mobilization and organization of fighters inside and outside
5. Presentation of a program for Iran’s flourishing after the fall of the Islamic Republic
In the realm of maximum pressure, the Islamic Republic is today in its most difficult and isolated state. On one hand, unprecedented external pressure has been exerted on it, and on the other hand, the inability to meet the basic needs of the people has confronted this regime with comprehensive internal pressures, especially in the fields of livelihood and economy.
In the realm of maximum support, today the readiness of governments, parties, and personalities to support the Iranian nation and its struggle is increasing.
In meetings and public and private discussions with politicians, decision-makers and decision-takers, entrepreneurs, and media, I have not only emphasized the continuation of these pressures on the regime and support for the Iranian nation, but have also proposed practical solutions for them and will continue to follow up on their implementation.
I am pleased to tell you that today groups that came together within the framework provided at the first Munich meeting are acting, in two areas of applying maximum pressure on the regime and gathering maximum support for the struggle of the Iranian people, in cooperation with each other much more planned, active, and effective than before.
In the area of maximum collapse, very good progress has been made. Activities take place in two areas:
1. General collapse through the national cooperation platform
2. The collapse of senior officials, which is being carried out with precision, security, and seriousness
Today, thanks to these targeted activities, we have greater insight into the internal structure of the government. We are also in contact with forces within this structure that accelerate the process of the fall of the Islamic Republic, and of course we simultaneously have a large database that is constantly being monitored and refined with full security. This database will play an important role in managing the transition process.
It is because the National Cooperation campaign has been successful and effective that the regime has become frightened and, fearing the increasing joining of military, police, security, and government forces to it, has resorted to spreading lies and destruction.
In the area of maximum mobilization of fighters, this conference and other programs that have been held only in the past week in different cities of Germany, especially in Hamburg and Munich, are themselves examples of my efforts and the efforts of my executive team to mobilize Iranians outside the country.
I am pleased to inform you that in these past 5 months, the number of groups cooperating with each other within the framework of Munich convergence has approximately tripled. These groups in recent months have made serious efforts to mobilize and organize forces inside and outside, of which only excerpts were brought to your attention at today’s conference.
Of course, regarding what is happening inside the country, one cannot go into detail, but in general it should be said that the expectation of the great Iranian nation is the continuation and acceleration of these activities. In the field of drafting programs and presenting a vision for the country’s rebuilding, the Iran Flourishing project has taken very great steps in recent months, which has come to your attention.”
Reza Pahlavi also, while once again inviting people to this national campaign, added: “My recommendation is to share your suggestions for improving these programs with those who undertake them. Make your expertise available to this project and discuss the presented solutions with those around you and your acquaintances.
I ask political groups and parties to come together around the totality of transition period programs, so that we can assure Iranian society and the international community that after the Islamic Republic, Iran will be a stable, free, secure, and flourishing Iran.
The Islamic Republic is today sliding toward collapse. But we Iranians ourselves must determine Iran’s future. To the extent that we fall short in this, others whose interests do not necessarily align with those of the great Iranian nation will have more opportunity to play a role.”
Prince Pahlavi also continued, while referring to the launch of a new website for recording various comments and ideas: “In this regard, in the coming weeks we will unveil a campaign website that will serve as a highway for attracting forces, registering ideas, reporting events, presenting programs, organizing fighters, and collecting financial contributions.
I invite all of you to be ready to work in this nationwide campaign. I will continue to play my role. I also expect you to play your role. Set aside minor differences. Avoid any conflict with each other and only fight the common enemy. Mobilize your supporters and stand beside me and beside each other for a noble ideal, the salvation of Iran.”
He continued: “In the program of the transitional government for the transition period, we have presented the political transition program from before the fall of the Islamic Republic until the handover of affairs to the first elected government for review by experts, political organizations, and civil institutions. In this program, for the current phase, that is, before the fall of the Islamic Republic, two key institutions are formed:
1. Temporary Executive Team
2. The National Uprising Institution, which will act as a strategic advisory body
As stated in our proposed plan, the Temporary Executive Team will be dissolved after the success of the revolution and the formation of a transitional government. The National Uprising Institution will also function not only as an advisory body, but as a temporary legislative body until the formation of the first elected parliament. I ask all experts and especially lawyers to review this proposed program and share their expert opinions with us.
Khamenei and his defeated regime, now that they see collapse more than ever before their eyes, have increased their threats against me. I, however, have lived with these threats since the day I began this struggle and have never let fear into my heart.
You men and women, compatriots in cities and villages throughout Iran, including workers, students, merchants, youth and teenagers, know that threats will not weaken my resolve and will to carry out the great mission of my life. Let Ali Khamenei know that his regime is unstable. Most of those around him despise him. Many of his guards are waiting for an opportunity to escape the sinking ship of the Islamic Republic, and the decisive majority of the nation are fed up with him and his regime. The end of the path he is on is to face the explosion of the nation’s accumulated anger, and it will not have a good outcome for him. We freedom-loving patriots are not of the nature and kind of this corrupt sect that launches extrajudicial executions from rooftops.
We tell him to turn back from this path leading to blood and fire. Do not impose more death and suffering on the great Iranian nation and even on your own supporters. Our commitment to holding a fair trial in accordance with international standards also includes Khamenei. What he himself has deprived Iranians of.
The great Iranian nation, our victory is closer than ever. Let us believe in our strength. We are a united, aware, and brave nation that this regime has never been able to overcome in culture, history, and civilization. The Islamic Republic is headed to the dustbin of history, and Iran and our nation will safely pass through this difficult period, free and with heads held high.
He concluded his remarks by referring to the King of Iran, Cyrus the Great, saying “We are a great nation, we will take Iran back.”
