Nowruz Message from Reza Pahlavi: 'Hope for the End of Destruction, Drought, and Water Shortage'

Prince Reza Pahlavi, the last crown prince of Iran, and Farah Pahlavi, the former queen of Iran, expressed their wishes for a free Iran and overcoming 'destruction, drought, and water shortage' in a message on the occasion of Nowruz. Reza Pahlavi, a leader of the opposition to the Islamic Republic, referred to Nowruz in a video message released on Tuesday, March 19, as 'the origin of hope and a symbol of national resilience and victory over evil and destruction.' He stated, 'My wish on this day is that with national will, the era of destruction and darkness in our Iran comes to an end, and we can build a prosperous, free, advanced, and proud Iranian homeland alongside our families in the not-so-distant future. My wish is that in the not-so-distant future, we celebrate the end of destruction, drought, and water shortage, and the dawn of joy and reconstruction together in our pure homeland.' The protests in December 2017, which affected over a hundred cities across the country, included slogans in support of the Pahlavi family, particularly Reza Shah, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. These protests were suppressed violently, leading to the arrest of thousands. In his Nowruz message, Reza Pahlavi also referenced the events and the dozens who were killed during these protests, saying, 'At the end of a winter that December heralded spring, my heart is with those who left so that we could stay.' Queen Farah Pahlavi, in her short Nowruz message, referred to the efforts of Iranians to achieve freedom and democracy and the current conditions in the country, stating, 'May our wish for freedom, prosperity, and democracy be fulfilled in the new year, and may the yokes be lifted so that the dear people of Iran can live in a progressive, safe, and peaceful Iran with all the nations of the world.' She ultimately expressed hope that the new year would be a year of 'victory of light over darkness and better days for all' Iranians.