Prince Reza Pahlavi's reaction to Iran's attack on Israel
Prince Reza Pahlavi spoke to Sky News in response to Iran's attack on Israel.
In Iran’s attack on Israel on Sunday morning, some 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were fired at Israel, but they were ineffective. Asked what his reaction was to the attack, Prince Reza Pahlavi said: “First of all, understand that this regime is getting weaker and more desperate by the minute. Interestingly, the regime is attacking Iranian women at home at the same time as this attack on Israel. Repression at home and rape abroad have been part of the regime’s main strategy in exporting an ideology from day one, and that is why we have reached this point. It was also a matter of domestic consumption and a lot of propaganda to please their base, but it was to the detriment of the nation that is the first victim of this regime.
"If you look at it from this perspective, Israelis, Iranians, Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Iraqis are all ultimately affected by what this regime wants to do."
Asked whether Iran had portrayed the attacks as successful in the eyes of the people, he said: “Most of my countrymen see it as billions of dollars wasted on weapons that ultimately proved ineffective. While Iranians are standing in line for food and fuel and worried about what will happen in a very bad economic situation. Our country will not benefit from this regime that does not spend a single penny on the needs of our society. Instead, it finances its proxies in the region to maintain itself in power. This is the perception that Iranians have of this situation, and as you well know, I think many regional leaders, including the Israelis, know very well that the Iranians do not support in any way what this regime supports. What they want is the exact opposite of what this regime is.”
Prince Pahlavi continued, in response to the question of what he thought would happen next because the Israelis were discussing it, adding: “I’m not going to speculate on who is going to do what and whether it will escalate or not, but what I can tell you is that the final solution that will end all the problems that are directly related to this regime, whether it’s the nuclear threat or the radical threat or the terrorism or the instability in the region, will end with the end of this regime. The Iranian people have been fighting for freedom for a long time, and I think now is the time when the world can make the final decision with a major change in its policy. That instead of pursuing the paths of diplomacy and appeasement, which emboldened this regime to do exactly what it did recently, they should end it by supporting the Iranian people, who are the alternativist.”
Asked whether anyone would listen to and support the opposition and the coalition he has formed, he said: “That’s exactly what I think. Now, the world, especially after what has happened recently, the world needs to think about how long we can continue the status quo and hope for a different outcome in the face of this regime that has been given many opportunities but has not changed. The reason is very simple, because the survival of this regime depends on the continuation of repression inside Iran, which has been going on for decades, and also on having a campaign that benefits from an ideology that we cannot imagine ending as long as this regime continues to exist. That is why the people of Iran are the most natural ally for the free world to support.”
Regarding the question of whether the only way to change a regime is when there is weakness within it, the Pahlavi prince replied: "Yes, of course it is. Look at the millions of Iranians who, despite the level of terror and repression inflicted upon them, have shown their courage by standing up to this regime for weeks and months. Of course, there have been ups and downs, but they are still standing firm and resisting, doing everything they can.
The question that is not being asked now is, where is the foreign support? Why is the world still trying to change the regime’s behavior instead of investing in its replacement, the Iranian people, and in a future secular and democratic country that will stand up to this religious dictatorship, which is ideologically the worst enemy of peace and stability. Their goal and all their pride is to talk about martyrdom and getting rewards in the afterlife. We are talking about the current situation and establishing peace and stability in the region and engaging with our neighbors, completely unlike this regime. I think it is time for the world to make a final decision on this issue and this is where we need to have a two-pronged approach. Increasing pressure on the regime through more sanctions and also adopting a policy of maximum support for the Iranian people. This is something that we need to discuss seriously with world leaders and decision-makers in governments.”
