Iran is a 'wounded animal' and will 'seek revenge', Pahlavi says

Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Iranian Shah and one of the main leaders of the opposition to the Tehran regime, is in Brussels this week to lobby for more sanctions and economic pressure on Iran. Yesterday, he met several members of the European Parliament. At a press conference, he called on the EU to show the same resolve as it has toward Russian President Vladimir Putin by uncovering hidden assets and freezing illegal assets linked to the regime. Afterwards, he spoke to Euronews' Vincenzo Genovese, who asked him about the changes in Washington. Take a listen. There are many Democrats in America who also believe that the Iranian regime is a major problem. It threatens national security for the U.S. and their interests, but also look at the region and the consequences of this regime, continue a policy of blackmail by taking hostages or disturbing maritime traffic through its proxies and helping the Houthis and the conflict that exists right now in the other straits. So ultimately, whether or not the conclusion is that the job needs to be finished. Maybe a question that they all have to explore, irrespective of the composition now of the House and the Senate back in the U.S. So my ask from the EU countries is, irrespective of your own political compositions, the cause of liberty and the cause of freedom in Iran and what will lead to ultimate stability as opposed to instability depends ultimately on Iranians being able to free themselves from this regime. And that should be their main policy focus. But also what can concretely be done to actually be an element that adds more pressure on the regime that could be extending economic sanctions, but parallel to that also have more direct support for the Iranian people, which we believe in that momentum will cause even more defections from the regime. And that's what will lead ultimately to the regime's collapse and the liberalization of Iran. But this strikes against the regime. ...caused the response of the regime, the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, which sparked a spike in the energy price, which is one of the main warnings for Europeans. What's your message to Europeans about that? The message is that when the animal is wounded and will seek revenge, you allow it to continue to live. And that's exactly what's at stake here. This regime has shown that it's willing to go all the way for its own survival. Not just by silencing its own citizenry, but by now not only threatening maritime traffic, but attacking with missile attacks countries in the area and perhaps even take action beyond that. You simply cannot allow this kind of terrorist regime continue to survive and exist. And you know the most important factor in this are the people of Iran themselves, who have risked their lives and are willing to die for the cause of freedom. Why not for once, after 47 years, abandon the idea of appeasement? And negotiations thinking that that will offer you a guarantee of stability and bet on the Iranian people as the element that will bring in the element of stability because we are committed to the same values of liberty and freedom as you are and enjoying it here in Europe. This regime doesn't. This regime executes everybody that stands for human rights and freedom in Iran. Europe has a tradition of standing with democracy and freedom. Why not today recognize that this regime will never be. A reliable partner is only trying to buy time, take advantage of weakness in leadership and decision making, whereas people every day are risking life and limb to say, we are your solution, why don't you come to our help? Because we are going to fight the fight. Help us get to a point that we can securely come back to the streets and reclaim our country. This is the specific elements that will make a difference in how soon Iran can be liberated, as opposed to drag the conflict even further.