Continued Reactions from Reza Pahlavi and Opposition Groups to Protests in Iran

As protests by the people inside Iran enter their seventh day on Wednesday, January 3, reactions to these recent events continue outside the country. In this context, Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, called on the military and police forces of the country to join the people in a tweet late Tuesday. Pahlavi wrote: "I urge the military and police forces to separate themselves from the oppressive tyrants today and join the ranks of the nation." According to official statistics announced on Tuesday, January 2, at least 22 people have lost their lives during the past week of protests in several cities in Iran, including Shahinshahr and Qahedarijan in Isfahan Province. The number of detainees in these protests was also reported to be over a thousand on the same day. Earlier, Ali-Asghar Nasirbakht, the political and security deputy of the Tehran governorate, reported the arrest of 450 people from Saturday to Monday in the capital. Meanwhile, Farah Pahlavi, the last queen of Iran, also issued a statement on Tuesday, January 2, expressing condolences to the families of the victims of the protests. The statement read: "Is the people's request for a better life in a rich country deserving of such a reaction from its rulers?!" The government's approach to the protesting people has drawn significant attention in recent days, especially on social media. Previously, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council accused Saudi Arabia of being involved in the recent protests in the country and warned that "they will receive an appropriate response from Iran." On Tuesday, Mostafa Hejri, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, called for global support for the people of Iran. Hejri, in an interview with "Voice of America," pointed out the "lack of trust of the Iranian people in the government," stating that the people are calling for the "overthrow" of the Islamic Republic. He also urged Kurds to join other Iranians in the recent protests. The new wave of protests began last Thursday in Mashhad with slogans about the poor economic conditions of the people, but quickly took on a political form, including slogans such as "Death to Khamenei." On Tuesday, with heightened security measures in Tehran, state news agencies reported "relative calm" in the capital, but protests continued in some cities in Iran. Conversely, some others, including artists in the country, have called on the Islamic Republic authorities to respect the right to protest and allow people to express their opinions and grievances. In this context, Sadegh Zibakalam, a political science professor, responded on Tuesday to statements by Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, writing: "If instead of threats and intimidation and showing power, you were willing to listen to their pain, you would realize that most of them are young people from the 1990s who have been unemployed for years; they have neither a glorious past nor hope for the future." According to Zibakalam on the Telegram social network, the protesters are "twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings who have graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees for years but are still sitting at their parents' table. Disillusioned with their principlists and their Shariatmadari, disappointed with their reformists and liberalism, and disgusted with Rouhani and his empty promises."