Reza Pahlavi: I Do Not Justify Seeking Financial Aid from Foreign Governments

Following the publication of an open letter addressed to the President of the United States regarding the future political situation in Iran, Reza Pahlavi announced in a statement released on Friday, January 21, that he had 'no involvement' in this correspondence and does not consider receiving financial aid from foreign governments 'justifiable.' In his statement, published on his official Instagram page, Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote that he does not find it 'justifiable and in his best interest' to seek financial aid from foreign governments. The statement begins with an explanation: 'Recently, a group of political organizations has requested in a letter to the President of the United States to announce their support for the opposition to the Iranian regime led by Prince Reza Pahlavi and, in this context, to make part of the confiscated assets of regime officials available to these organizations to cover the costs of freedom-seeking struggles.' It appears that the reference from Reza Pahlavi's office is to an open letter published with the signatures of dozens of opponents of the Islamic Republic on Facebook, in which the signatories called for the establishment of a financial fund under the supervision of the U.S. government to support the movement against the Islamic Republic. In his new statement, Reza Pahlavi says he had 'no involvement' in this correspondence. The 'Reza Pahlavi Office' further states: '... in the matter of struggle, they personally do not find it justifiable and in their best interest to seek financial aid from foreign governments.' Reza Pahlavi, who has always faced criticism in this regard, explained last year in interviews that since the 1979 revolution, he has had 'other jobs' and has been financially supported by his family and 'many Iranians who support his goal.' The signatories of the open letter believe that the opponents of the Islamic Republic have not been successful in their struggle against the regime due to the 'lack of a coherent financial organization to support and finance this movement.' They wrote: 'An effective and successful campaign on this scale needs financial support so that Iranians, alongside the most reliable national symbol of Iran, can fight against the apartheid and occupying Islamic regime by creating a financial fund under the supervision and auditing of the U.S. government and with an organized coalition.' However, in the continuation of Reza Pahlavi's statement, it is mentioned that this remark regarding receiving financial aid from foreigners only pertains to Prince Reza Pahlavi, and the opposing organizations themselves 'know what is best for them.' The statement reads: 'It should be noted that the tireless efforts of the fighters inside require the support of the freedom-loving governments of the world, and in this regard, the mentioned organizations should act in any way they deem appropriate.' In this context, four political organizations outside Iran issued a joint statement this week opposing the 'reliance of the opposition on them [foreign powers]' and called the return to monarchy in Iran a 'mirage.'