Press release from the office of Reza Pahlavi

Washington, DC, April 3, 2003-- Congressman Brad Sherman, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, hosted Iranian opposition leader, Reza Pahlavi of Iran, for a discussion on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and staff. Sherman and Pahlavi focused on ways the United States could encourage a free and secular democratic future for the people of Iran.

"The people of Iran are good people with a rich cultural history, but they are suffocating under a repressive regime that supports terrorism," said Sherman. "The United States needs to lead civilized nations in an organized effort against the clerical regime, for the benefit of human rights, as well as bringing an end to the regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons, and its support of terrorism. We also need to take a strong moral stand in our support of the Iranian people who are yearning to be free."

"The winds of change are gaining strength in my homeland," said Pahlavi. "My compatriots have today reached a critical cross road, sensing that their quest for secularism and democracy is within reach. The clerical regime's end is inevitable and will come in no other way than by means of a nonviolent civil disobedience campaign at the hands of Iranian people themselves. In our national pursuit of liberty, we demand and deserve nothing less than what the free world holds dear and guarantees for its citizens. "The State Department has consistently named Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism. In fact, Tehran's generous support of terror groups surpasses that of Iraq, Sudan, and Syria.

Sherman is particularly concerned about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and he has been a lead advocate of a tough line against the clerical regime in Iran and countries that invest in Iran. In particular, he plans to introduce legislation to reduce US funding to the World Bank if it proceeds with new loans to Iran.

Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, leads a campaign of political defiance against Iran's clerical regime. An accomplished fighter pilot, and a graduate of USC in political science, he currently resides in the United States.

Sent by Pooya Dayanim

* Send this page to your friends