Persian Realm

MM What should Reza Pahlavi do now?

Thank you for your interest.

It is true that for the younger generation of Iranians, Reza Pahlavi appears as a curious outsider in the current Iranian political Arena, but I would not say that they are indifferent. Already because everyone knows he is the Son of the Shah and the Legitimate Heir to the Peacock Throne ( in the Abscence of No serious pretendant to the Qajar family who until further notice has shown any significant interest or taken a political mantle in his or her hands). But more significantly because they have heard through their parents of how life was very different before the Revolution. For good or Bad they envy their parents for having lived in a more carefree society and the Pahlavi Era is seen not only through the distorted spectrum of Nostalgia but also as an era where their parents seemed to have benefited from a more progressive lifestlye similar to the Western Democracies ( albeit the Politics) and freedoms unimaginable in their country today.

Any person who would look at the photos or books on that period and compare it to the religious diatribe they are fed with on a daily basis would see this immediately.

People of my generation ( 40 upwards) who were either in their teens or much older who were not lucky enough to leave their country like us have not forgotten what life was like and we all have family members who through the years have spoken to their children or were asked to explain on how  life was like before the Revolution. 

I get emails from people who read my articles from Iran asking me about the Royal Family, the whereabouts of former actors or stars and this genuine curiosity is always followed with a hope to see the the exiled Royal family return as well as the exiled community once all this hell ends and the country gets back to normality.

Beyond the nostalgia, what strikes people is that they feel that with all it's shortcomings life under the Shah was the closest thing to Normality they have ever heard of in their country.

What we see in Iran and the videos of all these obsolete minded clerics proves to us is that we have been living under a Religious Inquisition not so different from the Spanish Inquisition in the middle ages. Even if the mullahs carry blackberries or I Pod's their mentality is still stuck in superstition which can only be explained to people by either a Psychiatrist at best.

So people I think are realizing gradually that they have simply been conditioned into believing many false arguments that have justified the Revolution of 79 as a just one. They realize that the revolution in Iran had nothing to do with let's say the French Revolution. That The Shahbanou was no Marie Antoinette and that their country was not one where people were dying of hunger as the current President Ahmadinejad suggested not long ago at the Press conference in Copenhague claiming that 95 % of the Iranian population was dying of hunger and living in poverty.

The level of absurdity of Iran's political elite has dissappointed and frustrated the most staunch or at least genuine Iranians who still harbored some idealism in the system and the Revolution. Even the likes of Montazeri, Khatami or the Reformists have come to realize to a great degree that they may have idealized their Revolution's legacy. If they have not, their supporters certainly have.

The level of sympathy for the leaders of the Green movement such as Karroubi, or Moussavi is due to the circumstances and indeed at (least for Karroubi) their physical courage in the face of the oppression but people are not naive. They know that these temporary leaders have had no other choice than to take a stand. So the People I think smartly are instrumentalizing their leadership by pushing them forward through secular slogans like "ESTEGHLAL, AZADI JOMHURYEH IRANI"

So yes in theory the prospect of a Secular Republic seems the logical outcome or at least ultimate goal aimed by the Green movement. However I think it would be naive to conclude so rapidly and urgently on their real motivations.

Nation Building after such great cataclysms as Wars or Revolutions cannot be achieved merely through "political" decisions. A Nation and it's intelligenstia, political elite (or aspiring elite) as well as civil society at large will inevitably be confronted to its past in order to build a better future.

To think that after 30 years of an political life dominated by superstition, bellicose pretexts of blaming foreign powers for all our ills, people will demand answers and accountability.

The role of the political establishment including any politician aiming to rule even after an election will be faced by a huge challenge which is not merely economic. 

It will need to first and foremost gain the trust of the people but also their love after such a brutal transition. The current violent crackdown is only the tip of the iceberg of intolerance that has piled up in three decades and will leave deep scars which will take time to heal.

That is why one of the greatest challenges to come will be to maintain civil peace not just in the streets but also in the hearts and bodies of those who have suffered, irrespective of their past loyalties. This means that the nation needs to reconcile itself with it's past and re examin what went wrong in order to take the necessary steps towards a Free and democratic society.

30 Years represents an entire generation. A generation which indeed did not even experience the Pahlavi era and has known just this theocracy and sad, bitter and ageing clerics in power to whom they can hardly relate.

This is where and here I speak for myself as someone who advocates Regime Change (obviously without Military Intervention) but in the form of a Restoration and Not the classical concept of Revolution.

Not that what is currently taking place is not a Revolution in the making but the shape it has taken is one based on the same methods and core values that have been observed in the Velvet Revolutions of the Eastern Bloc Nations that set them free from communism.

The major difference with spontaneous or sudden revolutions (like those of 1979 or other great revolutions of the 18th, 19th and 20th century, the French Revolution, The Russian Bolchevik Revolution or the Chinese Revolution to name a few ...) is that Velvet Revolutions take place in countries that have experienced the previous ones and know that their elders paid a price for which they are being held hostage. They have gained in maturity not only as individuals but as a collective entity. They know that to achieve certain goals they need to challenge the regime intelligently in order to overcome and beat it. To use a biblical anology it is indeed a little like David against Goliath. 

I understand the demands and slogans of the Green Movement ( which contrasts with the relative ideological neutrality of it's so called leaders still not able to set themselves free from the ideological dillemas of the current regime and it's revolution) as temporary means to define or influence their leaders into taking bolder steps for change from within.

The simple statement of Jomhuryeh IRANI indicates their wish to see a Separation between Religion and Politics without appearing as if they reject the Revolution of 79 in it's democratic aspirations.

But the Slogan "JOMHURYEH IRANI" is nothing new, it was already used during Khatami's era when people were demanding more freedom and Khatami was seen as the Gorbatchev of Iran. Yet it was tolerated because it was considered as precisely a "reformist" slogan up to Ahmadinejad's first election. The Republican notion did not seem incompatible with the Islamic Republic and the Boost given by the Soccer World Cup encouraged a wave of optimism which nurtured the idea that Iran was maybe on the way to achieving that national reconciliation "A La Francaise" that would guarantee the victory of the Revolution and the Islamic State as a given fact while leading to meeting it's promises of an enduring democratic transition. Such a victory was presented by it's advocates as an attempt to reconcile Islam with Democracy very much like the Christian democrats in Europe while ensuring an Islamic Rennaissance so to speak.

I believe that the genuine reformists like Khatami truly believed in this possibility as well as in it's humanistic message. Being a cleric he wanted to prove through the appealing "Dialogue of Civilizations" in the Post Sept 11th world that his peaceful crusade against obscurantism would succeed by offering a different reading of Islam.

If noble and probably true from a philisophical point of view, in practice both at home and on the international scene, what dominated and hindered his efforts was fundamentalism.

The same fundamentalism which is expressed in the violent crackdown today and which reproduces not the Shah's eventual brutality but rather the Revolutionary Zeal in the aftermath of the Revolution where dozens were arrested and tried without the slightest level of tolerance.

You can see it best expressed by the following Cleric :

//iranian.com/main/2009/dec/mohiyeddin-haeri-shirazi

This is the same mentality that brought down the Shah's Regime. It was based on jealousy and hatred but above all intolerance.

The young are seeing what they heard their parents tell them all these years in private. Confronted to what they read in the internet or on VOA or other Western Medias they have been able to inform themselves with various sources and at least enough to understand that the historical "TRUTH" has been distorted by obsolete revolutionary slogans.

I cannot imagine that this will not affect or has not affected the young without long term consenquences in Iran's political life but also in their soal searching. Very much like the Germans after the War, who had to cope with the disasterous record of the Nazi Era ...

To realize that they have been brainwashed and lied to for nearly 3 decades and deprived from much of their own dignity and identity only to realize even more harshly with the crackdown of the elections is something which will continue to leave a bitter taste in every young Iranian.

They already blame their parents for the Revolution and don't think that the Color Green initially associated to the Refom Movement ( by coincidence of a Goreh Keshy) is an expression of their faith in an Islamic Democracy ...

That is finished and whatever appeal Islam has had or could have had has gone down the drain. Even the attempts by those who wished to see the Shiro Khorsheed Flag dissappear from their memories are begining to think otherwise.

In this context when people cry out Marg bar Dictator or Marg Bar Khamenei, the slogan of Jomhurieh IRani escapes the reformist definition which was tolerated during the Khatami Era.

So it seems clear that we have moved to a very different stage and that is Revolution. However bloody it is nevertheless a Velvet Revolution because the protestors are unarmed and hope to bring down the Goliath with their fists and stones and anything they can grab to bring it down or at least force the regime to compromise into a dialogue with the opposition.

Yet I fail to see any real leadership in this revolutionary context. Events may prove otherwise. Moussavi may indeed become bolder or desperate to lead the movement at the cost of his life like his role model Amir Kabir. Same thing for Karroubi, or Khatami ( though I doubt he will) but neither of these people have the charisma ( which is often forged by how one reacts to events, than merely by one's personality or professional qualities or competence). If

If Leadership is truly depends on Charisma. It also depends on the lack of Charisma of other opponents or candidates.

This is why I think that Crown Reza Pahlavi has probably gained a capital of empathy and friendship amongst his compatriots both inside and outside Iran in growing numbers. It is the circumstances that make him more appealing to the masses, probably even more than his personal experience.

Can that be an opportunity for Reza to lead this movement ? Yes It can but it is not enough, and I think one of his advantages over his opponents is that he is aware of this. This is why he astutely has suggested to be not necessarily the leader of this velvet Revolution to be like a typical revolutionary like Khomeiny or Lenin but rather a CATALYST for Change.

His name and Status as former Crown Prince ( which is begining to be restored as Crown Prince Period even by hostile BBC journalists who end up by calling him Shahzadeh towards the end of his interview) can be a formidable tool to bridge both the Green Movement inside Iran and the Democratic Resistance outside ( However excluding the MKO for the time being).

His role could therefore appear as similar to what John Paul II was to the Solidarnosc Movement in Poland. The leadership emerged from the Movement itself but gained an international support thanks to the Pope's moral endorsement.

Of course there is a major difference here in that the Pope was a Religious Icon where as the Revolution we are speaking and hoping for is a Secular one. But the approach can be similar because the Pahlavi dynasty is linked to Iran's Royal Past with all the symbolism and attachment Iranians have towards their Royal heritage. Even if another Qajar Prince could claim the same representation, we cannot overlook the fact that the Revolution of 79 was constructed against the Pahlavis and not the Qajars ( as a matter of fact, Khamenei is said to be a great admiror of the Qajars and collects all books on their era).

Nothing will seem more fearful to the clerics than the prospect of a Restoration. They fear Revenge and this Fear can be used against them through intelligent propaganda by making them tremble at the idea that Khamenei is not just the Yazid described by Makhmalbaf but the Zahak which has to be overthrown in order to install the Legitimate King on the Throne. THe Iranian people are proving to be the Rostams of Iran and the Real Kaveh Ahangars unlike the cowardly Sheriff of Notingham Ahmadinejad and his master Prince Khamenei.

I am using these metaphores partly humoristically but also because I think that they do draw a pertinent anology in our popular psyche.

We can give this movement a great boost by creating not a new ideology but a new ideal of hope and prosperity from which a democratic society can emerge.

A Restoration I believe can respond to such an aspiration if the message gets through. Starting with the Intelligenstia in order to make it more appealing and understandable than merely though the crappy and mediocre LA TV's.

That is my opinion and I think that it is also what the Crown Prince is hoping to achieve on the long term and it is being understood at least on this side of the Atlantic in Europe and Franceand Great Britain in particular.

In short it is no more about Reza but the institution he embodies. So the real question of leadership remains open to anyone who would want to become Iran's Winston Churchill or Amir Kabir or anyother role model they see themselves as if they adhere to this project which I tried to summarize in my article here already before the elections based on my understanding of RP's own books Winds of Change and a Time to Choose as well as those of other prominent Iranian thinkers like Abbas Milani ( who is a Constitutionalist but not necessarily a Monarchist ):

REZA's CALL: An Iranian Solidarnosc... by DK

Now regarding your questions:

As far as I have read and heard in his speaches. RP clearly says he will not run for President if Iranians choose a Republic. He will respect the people's choice. That does not mean he will renounce to his Oath as King or "Roi de Jure" ( expression used by Royals who took oath in exile or upon exceptional circumstances where the State is abolished and that their is a vaccum of Power). In otherwords if a Royalist party ( in our case the Constitutional Party) decided to campaign for the Restoration of the Monarchy, I doubt that RP will discourage their efforts. Only he won't take part in the political battles to come.

So a President Pahlavi or Prime Minister Pahlavi is out of the Question from what I have understood. But he is willing to serve in any other capacity as long as it is not a Political one, very much like Prince Charles who is involved in environmental campaigns or humanitarian activities such as charity etc. Even if these obligations would have or could have limited political implications, it remains outside the major High Office responsabilities that are usually the prerogative of Heads of Government.

So there is no ambiguity here. If people want a Republic, RP won't run for President given his own Royal Status and loyalty to his upbringing and Royal heritage which he will pass on to his children like The Compte Of Paris who is the French heir to the French Throne today but who is simply a deputy in the French Parliment.  

However if the people choose a Constitutional Monarchy he obviously will accept the honor if submitted to him by the people and in that case the circumstances of let's say a coronation would be taken in charge by the elected government and Parliment to organize such an event unlike his own father's coronation which was like that of Napoleon Crowning himself.

It could even be a low profile but dignified one like is often the case in European Monarchies (with the exception of Great Britian's Pomp and Circumstance) like for instance in Spain with Juan Carlos:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-ZW-AgybI&translated=1

The Crown can merely be deposed on a cushion like for Juan Carlos to avoid the dictatorial anology of a One Man Rule so to speak.

Or Belgium with Baudouin who took oath while some Republican members in the Parliment shouted Long Live the Republic:     

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7DqxAQrtbs&feature=related

In Every Society Symbols Matter including in Republics. So these questions are natural and society and the political establishment can find adequate answers in the process.

What has to be understood is that the concept of Restoration is not unique in history. It is important to understand that a Constitution is meant to protect the rights of the citizen but it is first and foremost a moral contract or commitment between the governing body and the People. It applies equally to a Republic as it does to a Monarchy.

To claim that there is no difference between the two, would not be honest. Of course there is one major difference and that is that you choose a family to represent your nation ( ceremonially) where as in the case of a President he represents the nation both ceremonially and in rule for a given term.

Spanish Royal dinner for French President Nicolas and Carla Sarkozy:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxgQp_AeCyA

and Reception:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMldEzv3eiQ&feature=fvw

But beyond that the two systems operate democratically and are identically faced with the same political challenges including risks of being toppled by Revolution or Coup.

It is the level of understanding of the democratic process and the level of democratic awareness and maturity of a nation that makes a difference and ultimately allows societies to reach a level of political stability of it's institutions.

But to come back to your question which I understand is about  taking the mantle of leadership, I believe that what RP is trying to achieve is to create a concensus so to speak on how to operate this movement in the most effective way.

Sure I can understand people who say why isn't he in the streets risking his life. In the Middle Ages that is precisely what a King would do by taking to sword and riding on the White Horse to topple the Tyrant and Crown himself.

Today it would be considered as Suicide. Brave certainly but suicidal nevertheless.

But then again did De Gaulle Ever Fight in the Streets of Paris when the Parisians took over the city and liberated Paris ? Of course Not !

De Gaulle in Paris once liberated:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DryviV88mc

others did the fighting. French Socialist President Mitterand ( who was also a collaborator with the Petain government) used to joke about De Gaulle and the French Resistance Saying that it was easy to be a Resistance in an Armchair in London ...

The key of my argument is that Restoring Reza Pahlavi is not just a blind gift to him by sympathy or idolatory. We need to think like the British both pragmatically but also by realizing that as a people we have always been monarchists at heart. It has been expressed in our literature with Ferdowsi, in our architecture and maybe also it has even shaped our imagination, likes and distastes as a nation proud of its past and rich civilization. But in the process we lost ourselves due to the dreams of grandeur of not just our kings or queens but also out intelligenstia.

The Age of Divine Kingship is Over. No country in the world makes more fun of it's royals and political establishment than the British.

Just look at the country that gave us the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Monty Pythons or splitting Image. No other people are more enthusiastic about change and yet they remain loyal to what shaped their identity as a people. Shakespeare's plays are nearly all about Tyranical Kings like Macbeth and other ruthless characters just like in Ferdowsi's Shahname and yet the legitimate King triumphs in the end.

I think this is one of the reasons why the British have this love and hate relation with their Royal Families. In the end they remain part of the family despite all the so called scandals that even Diana's  divorce and death did not put an end to the enduringness of the Royal institution.

But Great Britian set aside, I truly think that Restoration are often the result of a need for national reconciliation and ultimately the only practical solution to put an end to violence and anarchy which often results from civil war or Revolutions.

If we understand that we as a people have reached a level of maturity that allows us to domisticate power in the form of a democratic system of government. Then the restoration of a Monarch cannot represent a threat.

The Iran of today is not the Iran of 1953 or the Persia of 1926. Reza Pahlavi is in tune with his time and generation.

He is not perfect but we are not looking for a Saint like Khomeiny or a dangerous megalomaniac to put on the Throne. And Crown Prince Reza is certainly neither. I doubt that his daughter Noor could turn into a dangerous dictator either:

//www.payvand.com/news/09/feb/1226.html

But to achieve at least a consensus so that we can work on a common platform for regime change towards a democratic system of government we need to join our efforts and develope a mutual trust between the different groups and aspirations. This is what RP is trying to do but he cannot achieve this alone. Others should join him in this struggle and it is not by playing it solo like some prominent figures have done to date by excluding others that we will reach such a consensus. Akbar Ganji or Shirine Ebadi for instance are in a position to bring their full support to the cause of a Referandum without renouncing to their own preferences. No one is asking them to become monarchists overnight. No one is expected to adher to something they do not wish for their country, but they can here Reza's Call to save to country from destruction.

That is why it is Time to Choose. Either We Work together towards bringing this regime to it's knees with the aim of freeing the people and allowing them to choose in security, freedom and serenity their system of government after a national referandum supervised by the international organizations like the UN or we give it all up and wait to see our country turn into an Ex Yougoslavia on the brink of explosion.

The Choice is Ours ! And it's NOW OR NEVER !

So I don't know if I answered your questions but I hope that my answers allow you to put things in perspective as to what RP is trying to say and achieve.

My humble Opinion,

Too late now got to go to bed on this side of the Atlantic. But look forward to your insights.

Good Night, Bonne Nuit and Shab Khosh,

DK

MM

You said it well. But RP is not "leader" material, nor creative enough to lead, nor brave enough to come forward and do something substantial. He could be great as a president or as a cermonial king, but saving the country from the clutches of the mollahs is a different thing and requires a different set of talents that RP lacks.

Darius - What should Reza Pahlavi do now?

Hello Darius,

Reza Pahlavi has been on the side-lines for the past 30 years and at least one generation of Iranians, many of whom are on the streets are now, look at Reza Pahlavi as a footnote in the history of Iran.  Please, no malice intended here.  

What Reza Pahlavi should do now is:

* He needs to lead: Declare what his vision for a secular Iran is.  i.e., what are his intended policies/politics and core-beliefs; a republic, a federation, jomhoori, a system like the British Monarchy or the same Shahi system as before?

* I have heard him say that it is up to the people of Iran to decide……., but I hope that he does not expect to reside here and hope that the people of Iran will ask him to come back once the Mullahs are kicked out.

* He needs to re-introduce himself to the thousands who do not know him.  He may even consider taking a chance and go to Iran NOW to lead the people in the struggle to kick the Mullahs out. 

* As I have said before, most of the known opposition leaders in Iran want to reform the system within the confines of an Islamic Republic and the call on the streets is "ESTEGHLAAL, AZAADI, JOMHOORI-E IRANI".  Reza Pahlavi may be well suited to be a charismatic secular leader that unites the people under one flag to give the Mullahs a final push.  Once the Mullahs are kicked out, then he can make his case to the Iranian people as to whether they should listen and vote for his core-beliefs.  

Just my opinion   

Reza to go Back? Maybe as a visiting private citizen

It is the truth but travel Iran and you will find there is nostaligic respect for his grandfather and father, but shazdeh reza is not taken seriously at all.

This time of the year he joins his auntie ashraf for a month vacation in the latin american islands drinking expensive wine and tanning in celebration of the christian new year.  He surrounds himslef by the few remaining members of his fathers ancient cabinet.

But who can blame him for wanting to live the good life? The other choice would be for him to join the street fights against the mollahs.   My four year old twin girls would say yukie poo on that.

Banafsheh Zolfaghari 

x

c

From asgharagha.com :

در حاليکه نيروهاي راست وچپ و ميانه و کارگري! اعلاميه‌هاي عاشورائي در
رابطه با حوادث اخير صادر کردند، اعلاميه رضا پهلوي رنگ مذهبي و سينه‌زني
اپوزيسيوني نداشت و روز حادثه برايش فقط «ششم دي‌ماه» بود، به دور از
روضه‌خواني‌ و شام‌غريبان‌بازي و گريز به صحراي کربلا.
اگر به سوي جامعه‌ي سکولار وحکومت لائيک ميرويد، بدبخت‌هاي مذهبزده، ياد بگيريد!

:), you should all learn from RedWine

on the subject of fairness & open mind since even though a Ghajaari himself, for the interest of Iran keeps a fair view of Pahlavis who replaced his doodmaan. Personal distaste should not become the pretext for distortion & defamation of facts. Pahlavis and all other patriotic elements of society have equal rights of expression .  

Cheers!!!

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia

all of these people in iran who are protesting are more entitled

to leadership than this guy reza pahlavi. until he makes himself the least bit uncomfortable, how can he expect to be taken seriously? sounding like you are hiding in george bush's commode and recording sympathy messages.... as holly said save it for your mamma.

Monarchy.....NEVER!

To Reza Pahlavi:

 TO DIGEH KHAFEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Rational debate is the way

I am also against re-establishing the monarchy in Iran, but I welcome the RPs contribution and his interest in the future of his country. We can not ignore the fact that he still influences a group of Iranians and these are not only the old generals or ex-Savakis who are now mostly employed in Basij. Calling him names or disrespecting the man for no good reason is just childish. He is using his credit and his family's credit to help the rest of us bringing change and that needs to be appreciated. Remember, Shah is remembered not only for crimes and undermining the constitution, but also for good deeds and a fair deal of development.

marg bar zeddeh velayate Pahlavi

The guy is alright but his supporters scare me.

Unfortunately, this

Unfortunately, this despicable attitude is still unchanged among a few of us, such as Marge, who are still resorting to name calling, belittling and otherwise hochi gari and arbadeh keshi, a-la-Khomeini's thugs style, which further pulls away Iranians from democratic ways.

And it does not matter whether they do it knowingly or unknowingly, as the result and the damage it causes is the same, namely enabling dictators and dictatorial ways and attitudes by creating an atmosphere that is not hospitable to democracy.

Too true. The obsession with the Pahalvis starting to sound  morbidy  neurotic.

Well said Red Wine

Iran needs a secular and parliamentary republic. It can't be any "simpler". And since RP's hand is not bloody, he too can run for office of presidency.

If however the people choose the Monarchy system in a fair refrundum (I doubt they will), then I am certain that they mean a constitutional Monarchy. I will still vote against it, but I will respect people's vote however it turns out.

However, in a free Iran, people like me can debate on the advantages of a republic. And others such as monarchists can debate on the advantages of a constitutional monarchy. People will listen to these debates and argumentations, do their own thinking and then cast their votes.

As we know, this is called democracy. One thing that can disturb such democratic process is the use of the trade mark tools of anti-democratic forces, i.e., hochi gari and arbadeh keshi, which was successfully used early in the revolution by Khomeini's thugs to silence any opposing views.

In a future free Iran, I am certain that our brave and alert Iranian people will not give in to, nor be fooled by, these deceptive noise makers, as people have been tasting it for the past 30 years, starting with khomeini's thugs early in the revolution.

Unfortunately, this despicable attitude is still unchanged among a few of us, such as Marge, who are still resorting to name calling, belittling and otherwise hochi gari and arbadeh keshi, a-la-Khomeini's thugs style, which further pulls away Iranians from democratic ways.

And it does not matter whether they do it knowingly or unknowingly, as the result and the damage it causes is the same, namely enabling dictators and dictatorial ways and attitudes by creating an atmosphere that is not hospitable to democracy.

lol "even if the whole nation begged him"

they might beg homer simpson too. but like reza pahlavi, he can't give up the good American doughnuts and comfortable life. He's not a fighter, just an attention grabber. Where can we donate tissue boxes for his future press conference? Give us an address Darius Jan. Thanks!

RP Just asked the Armed forces

to lay down their arms - that is about all he can do.    What did you expect him to do meg?   What would you have done?   Let me share a secret with you - RP will never go back to Iran, even if the whole nation begged him to take the crown.  And quiet frankly - I can't blame him either. 

HollyUSA

با شما کاملأ موافق هستم.

مطمئن باشید که اگر کسی‌، شخصی‌ یک سر سوزن بدی به کسی‌ کرده باشد، حتما جواب گو خواهد بود و در برابر ایرانیان محاکمه خواهد شد.

خدای ما ایرانیان بزرگ است و اکنون دشمنان ایرانیان در تنگنا قرار گرفته اند و به زودی حق به حق دار خواهد رسید.

RW

ما را که از احاکم صادر شده بیمی نیست. خدا به داد اونها که دستشون آغشته به خون است و‌ دنباله رو‌های آنها برسد.

...

حالی‌ خانم، حکم صادر شده است و مجازاتش در پی آنست و بقیه آن از دست من و شما خارج است.

مرگ بر دشمنان ایران و مرگ بر بد خواهان ایران و ایرانی، حالا می‌خواهد از قوه سلطنت باشد یا اسلام،کمونیست باشد یا سوسیالیسم !.... اینجور بیشتر خوش آید که نزدیکتر به حق است.

حق را فراموش نکنیم که گناه پا گذاشتن بر حق از دل شکستن سنگینتر است.

موفق باشید.

Red Wine khan

من میگم مرگ بر سلطنت مرگ بر جمهوری اسلامی و مزدورانش

شما هم بگو (میگی‌) مرگ بر جمهوری اسلامی، مرگ بر خامنه‌ای و غیره

حکم صادر کردن رو بی‌ خیالش قربون.

از لطف شما سپاسگزاریم

Rustgo

Reza Pahlavi has no claim to be a leader, and if he will someday, it's up to the Iranian people to decide. U cant blame a person for what his father or ancestors did, it that case not a single soul in Iran deserve to be alive, as they all took part in empowering this evil Islamic regime. Btw, compare to mullahs and Hezbolahees shah was Emam jomeh!

I'm with Red Wine

I don't understand.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

We all know communism is dead.

Would it ever come back? I don't know.

But there are communist parties all over Europe, and some occupying seats in their country's parliament.

Why can't we consider the same right for the "Constitutional Monarchy Party of Iran"?

In my book, anyone who is willing to play by the rules of democracy,
can have a hat in the ring; be it the "Constitutional Monarchy Party of
Iran", or " Hezbollah".

Yours,

Ali P.

بنده هم هیچ

بنده هم هیچ گونه گرایش نسبت به سلطنت دوباره در ایران ندارم و خواهان یک جمهوری ساده در ایران آینده هستم ولی‌ حاضر به امر فحاشی نسبت به رضا پهلوی نیستم و گمان می‌کنم که افرادی که این گونه رفتار میکنند ، قطعاً از جای دیگر زجر و عذاب می‌کشاند وگرنه اینگونه بحث‌ها غیر ضروریست.

با یک عدد رفراندوم آزاد، خواهیم فهمید که آیا مردم ایران سلطنت خواهند و یا یک جمهوری، غیر از این هر گونه صحبت بی‌ پایه است و افرادی که به غیر برخورد کنند به بیراهه روند و حکمشان خاموشیست !

داریوش جان از لطف شما سپاسگزارم.

masoud you are not hard to please, are you?

that's a good thing for prince chubby here! If you call this "doing what he can," I feel sorry for you. I live in the United States, like his royal lowness, and i'm pretty limited in what I can "do." But Reza's photos are giving us all ideas I suppose.

Go on Reza! Let your royal light shine on us....what's left of it at least. He looks like he hasn't slept in DAYS :( poor guy. anyway i'm glad he has some fans this side of the world. in iran he is forgotten.  

Don't be "Unuseful Idiots"

Why are some of you having such a hard time seeing RP doing what he can to free Iran?  If you can't be useful - at least don't be idiots. 

Marge it's drama for his mama

Who BTW also issued some nonesense today. DK must be dashing to get it up (the nonsense I mean) before anyone else does.

I think joojeh is trying to add drama to it, u know make it sound like he's 'part of' the turmoil.

Or on second thought may be he is in GB's commode.

Holly why does he sound like he is in George Bush's commode?

Crown Prince Jan - get a better microphone and stop trying to sound so underground. This is pathetic.

Oh oh Barikallah joojeh Pahlavi

He's learned some new words Marge. Give him some credit.

LOL!!!! iPahlavi and his apple laptop are here!

This is just fantastic! A man of the people, I'd say. I think king of kong is jealous of Mohsen Sazegara!

Dear Mr. Crown Prince! Please Please join iranian.com. In between those hard hitting interviews with Fox News and news observing, please give Darius a break and join for direct communication. Even CENTCOM did it. I'm sure you can....

rustgoo, are you nuts? the iranian people are obviously craving a kingdom. you will see when reza gathers the nuts to fly to iran and grab hold of his destiny and iran's. 

Get over it; it's over

Why do our sisters and brothers in Iran have to fight a criminal
and corrupt regime today only to hand over the power to a family with the
same criminal and corrupt past? It will never happen.