Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi outlines his roadmap for regime change and political transition in Iran to host Joe Lonsdale.
Opinion
Pahlavi: Iran's leadership functions as a military mafia dividing national wealth
“Well, imagine that you have this huge tent with Khamenei as the main pillars, and under this tent, there's a sort of a symbiosis of a mafia-like military paramilitary group that benefits from economic privileges and a whole host of people directly or closely a…”
Opinion
Pahlavi defends regime change in Iran despite the failures in Iraq
“While at the time it was putting an end to an existence, particularly the scenario of Iraq which was an argument for regime change, which happened, but the way it was handled, gave the name regime change a bad reputation. What I've been arguing is that regime …”
Assertion Partly supported
Pahlavi: Only 4,000 to 5,000 of Iran's 180,000 Clerics Supported 1979 Revolution
“There were approximately a 180,000 clerics in Iran at the time from ranging from the simple mullah all the way to the highest rank. Out of that 180,000, only four or 5000 were really part of the revolutionary groups. Most of them were opposed to what Khomeini …”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Pahlavi: US-Style Freedom of Religion Existed in Pre-Revolution Iran
“Freedom of religion, as it exists in America, existed in Iran before the revolution.”
Opinion
Pahlavi: US should repurpose frozen regime funds rather than release them
“We're not asking for tax dollars. We're asking, for instance, that if the Biden administration wants to release ten billion dollars blocked in Iraq, which is electricity revenue, which is the people's money to begin with, while releasing it to a regime that ki…”
Disclosure
Pahlavi: I am not seeking any personal position in post-regime Iran
“I'm not looking for any personal interest out of it or any position for myself, but if you trust me to be your transition agent, that's what I'm here for, and it's the only thing that preoccupies me day and night. Help manage this transition to a successful en…”