photo By: Maz Mansouri
For years, the Iranian left wing, especially the reformist current, tried to convince the public opinion that the "snake head of the Islamic Republic" is Khamenei and the top commanders of the IRGC. Their narration was simple and seductive, if Khamenei leaves or the IRGC is paralyzed, the whole system will collapse. This analysis practically reduced any serious and structural struggle with the regime to waiting for the death of one or more commanders, and the energy of the opposition was focused on one point instead of continuous and intelligent pressure. concentrated
But the reality was more bitter and complicated than this narrative. Even after the death of Khamenei and the loss of several key IRGC commanders, the Islamic Republic is still standing. This continuity showed that the problem is not simply an individual or a military institution, but a deep network Interests, ideology and especially International support is Today, more than ever, it is clear that the real "snake head" of the regime is located in the capitals of Europe (especially London, Berlin and Paris) as well as in Beijing and Moscow. These countries with policy of appeasement, trade, secret diplomacy and sometimes even lobbying directly, they bring political and economic oxygen to the regime and prevent its complete isolation.
We saw a clear example of these efforts in the recent visit of Prince Reza Pahlavi to Berlin and other European capitals. The Islamic Republic of Iran used all its powers to either cancel the meetings and plans of this trip or make them look completely unimportant. The propaganda of the regime and its supporters in the media and social networks introduced these trips as "ceremonial", "inconclusive" or "only for the internal consumption of the opposition". This hysterical reaction shows the regime's deep concern about any Political logistics And international is for the voice of the opposition. When the regime tries so hard to trivialize a trip, that's exactly where its significance should be noted.
In contrast to these efforts, the achievements of Prince Reza Pahlavi's European trips, especially the trip to Berlin, are significant and strategic from a political point of view:
۱. Meeting with heads and key members of parliaments and foreign policy committees: Meetings with figures such as Armin Lacht (head of the Bundestag's foreign policy committee) and representatives of various German parties, as well as similar meetings in Sweden (Riksdag) and Italy, go beyond photos and protocol. These meetings mean creating channels It is directly related to the future decision makers of European policy towards Iran. In real politics, regime change or maximum pressure requires constant lobbying in parliaments, not just governments. These meetings are the seeds of future support in institutions They are able to challenge the policy of appeasement and advance resolutions or targeted sanctions. Even if the German government did not visit officially, the presence in the Bundestag and the dialogue with cross-party representatives put political legitimacy in the heart of the opposition. Europe strengthened.
۲. Direct communication with the media and journalists under the influence of the regime's propaganda: Holding a press conference in Berlin with the presence of more than 150 international journalists was an opportunity to break the monopoly of the regime's narrative. Many western media have been under the influence of leftist narratives or direct/indirect propaganda of the Islamic Republic for years. and they saw Iran's human rights issues (executions, suppression of protests, political prisons) as marginal. In these meetings, the Prince directly brought up the voices of the victims and even criticized the journalists for not paying attention to the ongoing crimes of the regime. criticized Although this work was met with resistance, it brought the discussion to the public level and showed that the serious opposition is willing to face media bias. In the long run, such interactions will help break the narrative of "Iran = Regime" and the voice of the people Iran should be heard more.
۳. Strengthening the position of the opposition as a credible alternative: These trips showed that the opponents of the regime (centered on the prince as a unifying symbol for an important part of Iranians) are no longer a marginal voice. Emphasizing that the political future of Iran should be determined by the people themselves and through free elections It was a strong democratic message that made even critics think. Author: Mehyar
