Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last king, has criticised the Islamic Republic, accusing it of using the name of Iran to present itself as a defender of national interests after decades of policies that he says have damaged the country. In a statement, Pahlavi accused the Iranian government of pursuing policies that have led to isolation and economic hardship, and said it was attempting to portray itself as a protector of the nation. He said the Islamic Republic should not be equated with the Iranian people, arguing that “Iran belongs to its people, not a government that has built its survival on the country’s destruction”. Pahlavi said what he described as “true nationalism” meant supporting Iranians’ efforts for freedom, prosperity and rebuilding the country, rather than defending a government he blamed for decades of suffering. He added that he and his supporters were committed to what he called “reclaiming Iran” from the current system, and urged followers to access his media platform, Iran National Revolution TV. Reza Pahlavi is one of the prominent opponents of the Islamic Republic living outside Iran. Iranian authorities have repeatedly rejected his political positions and those of other opposition groups.
