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
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