Reactions to Pakistan's Attack on Iran During Khamenei's Poetry Recital; Reza Pahlavi: The Islamic Republic is 'Terrorism-Generating'

In response to the reciprocal attacks between the Islamic Republic and Pakistan on the border regions of both countries, several opposition figures have also commented on the matter. Prince Reza Pahlavi condemned the 'mad' missile attacks by the Islamic Republic on Iran's neighbors and its 'inability to protect its borders and citizens, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.' His reaction comes after nine citizens were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Iranian territory, while Ali Khamenei remained silent on the incident, and officials of the Islamic Republic claimed that the deceased were 'foreign nationals.' In a message published on his social media accounts on Thursday, January 18, he stated: 'Since its establishment, the Islamic Republic has made terrorism a cornerstone of its foreign policy, embroiling the entire region in war and tension.' According to him, the relationship between Iran and Pakistan 'was based on friendship and mutual respect before the catastrophe of 1979,' and 'Iran was not only a mediator of peace between India and Pakistan but also helped this eastern neighbor during economic difficulties,' with 'that respect stemming from Iran's economic, military, diplomatic, and cultural power.' Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized that 'the Islamic Republic has created such misery in Iran through the regional adventurism of its Revolutionary Guards and its economic, political, and security incompetence that Pakistan conducts military operations kilometers inside Iranian borders, and the anti-national media thank God for it.' He also added: 'The mad missile attacks of the Islamic Republic on neighboring countries and its inability to protect borders and citizens, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity are two sides of the same coin and are condemned.' He considered the solution to end these events as 'putting an end to the regime that arose from the catastrophe of 1979' and added, 'The solution is to return Iran's train to the track of progress and civilization, rebuild the country's economic, diplomatic, military, and cultural power, establish peaceful and friendly relations with neighbors based on national interests, and restore stability and tranquility to the region.' The statements of this opposition figure come as officials of the Islamic Republic have attempted to normalize the situation by labeling the nine deceased citizens of the retaliatory attacks by Pakistan as 'foreign nationals,' which has led to widespread reactions from Iranians on social media. Additionally, journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad wrote in a text published in English on the social media platform X: 'The Islamic Republic's attack and then Pakistan's response are the result of war and terrorist operations against the Baluch people and the massacre of innocent people.' He stated that 'ten people have been killed in Saravan, Iran, four of whom are children,' adding: 'However, regime-affiliated media happily announced that these innocent killed individuals do not hold Iranian citizenship. This hateful and inhumane reaction of the regime shows that territorial integrity and aggression against Iranian soil are not important to them; rather, it is an excuse to attack anti-regime Iranians.' Former football player and opponent of the Islamic Republic, Ali Karimi, referred to the Islamic Republic as 'the criminal mullah regime' and 'the thug of the quiet alleys of the region,' stating that tensions have 'shaken.' Pakistan's airstrikes on border areas in Saravan occurred hours after Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic, announced that 'the capacity of the border and border markets' in Sistan and Baluchestan province 'should be utilized for the country's development.' Meanwhile, state media in Iran reported that Ebrahim Raisi, the President, traveled to 'Firuzkuh and Damavand' around the capital. He has yet to comment on Pakistan's retaliatory attack on Iranian territory. Simultaneously with Pakistan's attack on Iranian soil and the killing of several citizens, Mahdi Fazeli, a media figure close to the leader of the Islamic Republic, published a 'new ghazal' from Ali Khamenei on social media. While Ali Khamenei has remained silent about the Revolutionary Guards' attacks on Iran's neighbors in recent days, his Twitter account on Wednesday republished part of the Islamic Republic leader's remarks stating that 'intimidation' from the US and Israel is 'one of the ways to take people out of the scene.' Additionally, US President Joe Biden stated on Thursday, January 18, that the conflicts between Iran and Pakistan show that the Islamic Republic is 'not favored' in the region.