Prince Reza Pahlavi in an interview with Voice of America: The policy of applying "maximum pressure" on the government and "maximum support" for the Iranian people should be pursued
Referring to the death of Sasan Niknafs, a political prisoner in Iran, Prince Reza Pahlavi considered the efforts of "free and freedom-loving Iranians" to reflect "the voice stifled in the throats of the Iranian people" and said that he wanted to apply a policy of maximum pressure on the government of the Islamic Republic, and maximum support for the people of Iran.
In an exclusive interview with Kambiz Tavanah of the Voice of America Persian Service, which took place on Wednesday, June 10, in the US Senate, Prince Reza Pahlavi also said regarding the election boycott debate that even those who were once part of this system have come to the conclusion that the elections should be boycotted.
The full text of this interview follows.
Voice of America: When I spoke with you in December 2018, it had been a few days since the death of Vahid Sayadi Nasiri in the prisons of the Islamic Republic. That day, you said that the freedom movement of the Iranian people would bear fruit and that the names of the Sayadi Nasiris would be written in textbooks. Today, it has been a few days since the death of Sasan Nik Nafs, another political prisoner. What are your feelings about the deaths of these young people and your assessment of the efforts of Iranian freedom fighters?
Prince Reza Pahlavi: It shows that every free and freedom-loving Iranian - now a supporter of any system he wants - is paying for the stifled voice in the throats of the Iranian people with all courage and at the highest cost, and some even by losing their lives, today, and this can only be a factor and a model for others that, unfortunately, freedom is not easily achieved and really has a cost. But we must hope that with such determination and effort, and most importantly, unanimity and unity, we can finally defeat the common enemy. The memory of these dear ones who lost their lives in the cause of freedom will fill the pages of our country's history and will be a lesson and a model for future generations of the country.
Voice of America: You are actively involved in the "No to the Islamic Republic" campaign, and your stance on the elections has been and is boycotting. But this year, it seems that the boycott of the elections is being pursued more seriously. What is your opinion on the current situation and the course of the boycott of the elections in Iran?
Prince Reza Pahlavi: My compatriots who have followed me for more than two decades know my position on elections, or rather “appointments,” well. In my opinion, it is not in the honor and dignity of a human being to become a tool of a regime that wants to claim legitimacy based on the participation of the people in a fraudulent appointment when their vote does not count and is of no importance. That is why I was against any participation in the elections from day one because it made no difference in the matter. And finally, today, many, including those who were themselves part of this regime until yesterday, have also come to the conclusion that these elections should be boycotted. We are questioning the entire regime. There is no longer a discussion of bad and worse or reformists and fundamentalists. Or, as they say, “the story is over,” and the Islamic Republic must be left behind.
VOA: You're speaking to us in the Senate after meeting with some senators. What are your thoughts on the current negotiations to revive the JCPOA and return to the nuclear deal? Do you agree with opening up more space for diplomacy with Iran and easing sanctions, or do you think a maximum pressure campaign should be pursued?
Prince Reza Pahlavi: My constant goal in bringing the voices of my compatriots to the ears of the world has always been to let the Iranian people know that they expect spiritual support and even beyond from the free world and especially from Western democracies. Therefore, any talk in this regard and support for the Iranian people is what our compatriots expect. Of course, more so, and in the case of the United States, as you know, they pursued a policy of maximum pressure as a foreign policy. My message today to Senator Marco Rubio and other political figures that I see is that you should introduce a new factor into the scene at the same time as this maximum pressure, and that is maximum support. Because it is support for the people that will be the factor of change, and not just pressure on the regime. And that is when most of the world has been thinking that this pressure will change the behavior of this system. Whereas I have said from day one that the essence of this system is such that if it stops its actions such as terrorism, interference in neighboring countries, and other actions, it will no longer be an Islamic Republic and you have the wrong expectations. Instead, you can expect people who pursue the same values in their goals and desires that you have in your world; such as human rights, equality, freedom of speech, free elections, and so on.
VOA: As a final question, and if I understand you correctly, do you support a maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian government and a maximum support campaign for the Iranian people?
Prince Reza Pahlavi: I think no Iranian is unaware of the fact that when a regime that does not want to show the slightest mercy to its own people, represses, tortures, and executes, a strong confrontation with such regimes beyond our borders from a world that is compassionate – if they really exist – must be directed at this regime. But that alone is not enough. It helps to tie the hands of the regime that does not do whatever it wants in Iran or elsewhere, but support from the people is also necessary in the meantime. The people want and expect this, and of course, there is a regime that has always tried to say that this is interference in our internal affairs; haven’t you interfered enough in the internal affairs of other countries that now you want to criticize others? As we say, “One pot calls another pot a black hole.”
Source: Voice of America
