Reza Pahlavi Warns of Islamic Republic's 'Provocations' to 'Invite a Limited Attack' on Iran

Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a new statement warning that the Islamic Republic government may resort to 'more provocations to invite a limited attack' on Iran due to its 'desperation' and to divert attention from its 'incompetence and corruption.' In his statement, which he also shared on Twitter on Tuesday, February 21, he mentioned that he is working 'to raise international awareness' to prevent an attack on Iran. According to Reza Pahlavi, the continued provocations by the Islamic Republic government 'increases the possibility of military conflict in the negotiations of the interested countries at the Warsaw Conference.' The international conference on the future of the Middle East, focusing on Iran, is set to take place on February 13 and 14 in Warsaw, Poland, hosted by the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that the goal of this meeting is to 'promote stability and freedom in the Middle East, emphasizing countering Iran's regional influence.' The holding of this conference has been described as a continuation of the 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran, and the U.S. State Department has announced that dozens of countries will participate in the Warsaw meeting, countries that share common interests in establishing stability in the Middle East. Jacek Czaputowicz, the Polish Foreign Minister, stated on Monday in Brussels that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not been invited to the Warsaw meeting. He explained that 'because, in Poland's view, Iran is making statements and taking actions that do not fit within the norms of the international community, and this threatens the calm process of holding the conference.' Iran has strongly criticized the holding of this meeting, and its relations with Poland have also become tense as a result. Reza Pahlavi: The weakening of the ruling authority's morale due to the expansion of protests over the past year. The son of the last Shah of Iran stated in his statement: 'With the deterioration of relations between Iran and the West, there is talk of severe decisions from these countries to counter and neutralize the unnecessary provocations and interventions of the Islamic Republic regime in the world, especially in the Middle East. The continuation of such a method by the regime increases the possibility of military conflict in the negotiations of the interested countries at the Warsaw Conference.' He added: 'Such crises stem from the foolish policies of the Islamic Republic due to its interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, especially its neighbors, which contradicts Iran's national interests and led to the disastrous eight-year war at the beginning of this regime's establishment. In line with such policies, the regime has supported and provided military logistics to terrorist groups and has engaged in proxy wars in the Middle East, which has compelled the West to consider military solutions alongside other strategies in dealing with and neutralizing such provocations.' According to Reza Pahlavi, 'However, over the past year, the expansion of protests by the people against the entire regime of the Islamic Republic has weakened the morale of the ruling authority and has made them more aware of their helplessness in solving the vital problems of the people. In this desperation, the regime may resort to more provocations to invite a limited attack on our country to divert attention from its incompetence and corruption and focus it on a foreign attack.' Over the past year, the frequency of protests in Iran has increased, and besides student protests, workers, teachers, and farmers have also engaged in multiple protests. Recently, Ali Mohammad Naeini, an advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, predicted that in 2019, 'two major unrests' would occur in Iran. He stated: 'Next year we have the parliamentary elections, which should be said to play a catalytic role in providing the grounds for civil disobedience. On the other hand, (enemies) have focused on economic pressures in the sectoral and labor areas.' Hesamoddin Ashna, an advisor to the Iranian president, has also stated that the potential for urban protests still exists, as the underlying causes have not been resolved. In his latest message, the last crown prince of Iran wrote: 'Preserving the territorial integrity and unity of our country is our national duty; therefore, in addressing the current crisis that our homeland is facing, I am committed to raising international awareness so that they know that the only principled and rational solution to such crises is not an attack on Iran, but full support for the freedom-seeking movements of the Iranian people; who have paid a heavy price under this regime for the past forty years and continue to stand for their rightful aspirations against it.'