Iran-The Rise of Radical Islam and the Downfall of Freedom: ​ An Interview with Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi (Tehran, Iran-outside the former U.S. Embassy, Iranians burn the flag of the United States.) Interviewer: Karis Mardirossian Interviewee: Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Instructor: Amanda Freeman February 11, 2019 Mardirossian 2 Table of Contents ​ Interviewer Release Form .........................................................................................................3 Interviewee Release Form..........................................................................................................4 Statement of Purpose..................................................................................................................5 Biography...................................................................................................................................6 Historical Contextualization Paper..........................................................................................................................................8 Interview transcription.............................................................................................................26 Interview Analysis....................................................................................................................58 Bibliography.............................................................................................................................71 Mardirossian 3 Mardirossian 4 Mardirossian 5 Statement of Purpose ​ The Iranian Revolution is a very important part of history because it not only impacted Iran, it also severed the cooperative and cordial relationship between Iran and the United States. The revolution also left its permanent imprint on the dynamics and balance of the Middle East. The ramifications of the 1978-1979 uprising, that led to the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, are stilling being debated today. Thirty-nine years after the revolution, relations between our two countries are still hostile and very adversarial. The growing terrorism and unrest in the Middle East have reached the United States and remain a severe threat. Terrorist groups are still seeking strongholds in other Middle Eastern countries. With these ramifications come different perspectives of whether Iran and the world are better or worse off because of the revolution. With these conflicting perspectives, it is essential to seek the opinion of someone who lived in Iran and had first hand knowledge of the event. My interview with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi provided insight as to the evolution of Iran as a country. Mardirossian 6 Biography ​ ​ Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran, Iran on October 31, 1960, to the late Mohammad Reza Shah and Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran. He is the eldest of four children. He was officially named Crown Prince in 1967 at his father’s coronation ceremony. He attended private school in Iran and at the age of 17, left Iran in 1978 to start jet fighter training in the United States Air Force at the Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas. The Iranian Revolution in 1978-79 led to the departure of his family from Iran in January 1979. The government of Iran was taken over by Islamist, which instituted a theocratic regime that prevents him from returning to his homeland. After completion of his jet fighter training at Reese Air Force base, he continued his education at the University of Southern California with a degree in Political Science. As an accomplished jet fighter pilot, he offered his services to his country during the Iran-Iraq war but was declined by the clerical regime. His deep commitment and loyalty to his countrymen remain strong as he has spent the last forty years of his exile championing and advocating for human rights, equality, democracy, and freedom for the people of Iran. Crown Prince Pahlavi gives speeches in the United States and abroad as well as meets with heads of Mardirossian 7 state, legislators, policymakers, lawmakers, and student groups worldwide to discuss and speak out about the difficulties Iranians endure under the Islamic regime. He calls for the end of oppression and abuse of the Iranian people through the institution of a secular democracy with a assessable and free referendum on a new government with a regime change through non-violent civil disobedience. Crown Prince Pahlavi is also an accomplished published writer. He has written three books on the state of affairs in Iran, Winds of Change: The Future of Democracy in ​ Iran (2001), Gozashteh va Ayandeh (2000), and IRAN: L’Heure du Choix, (The Declining Hour), ​ ​ ​ ​ (2009). Still, to this date, he is a leading and vocal advocate for his countrymen in bringing ​ attention to the free world their struggles for liberation, equality, and freedom. Mardirossian 8 The Revolution that Rocked Iran and The Middle East My father, an Armenian born in Tehran in the mid-1950s, often referred to Tehran as the “Paris of the Middle East.” What happened to that cosmopolitan city? The Iranian Islamic Revolution is what happened. The revolution was a result of the discontent and uprising of women and student organizations who became revolutionaries. These revolutionaries later joined forces with radical religious leaders. Their joint forces, and led by exiled Iranian Marja, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, placed Iran in a state of extreme turmoil and chaos during the last six months of 1979.1 Why were these citizens rebelling and protesting against the Shah of Iran, when Iran was prospering economically, socially, and structurally? Discontent stemmed from the revolutionary’s socio-economic status and oppression of speech. The radical religious leaders in Iran were in opposition to western influence and adamantly against secular rule. When the Carter Administration pulled their position of support from the Shah and covertly backed Khomeini in later part 1979, this change in tactic advanced the revolution.2 The revolution lasted from 1978 to 1979 and ended when the Shah left Iran on January 16, 1979. He thought was a short trip to calm down months of protest and strikes, but within days, Khomeini returned to Iran and the government changed from an autocratic rule to theocratic rule. A bloodbath ensued, freedom of choice and strong economic growth and development ended.3 Thus, to understand the Iranian Revolution, one must examine Iran as a country, its leaders, as well as its impact on the stability 1 YOUSSEF M. IBRAHIMN, "INSIDE IRAN'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION," The New York ​ ​ Times, October 19, 1979, 3-4, accessed November 13, 2018, ​ https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/14/archives/inside-irans-cultural-revolution-iran.html. 2 Krysta Wise, "Islamic Revolution of 1979: The Downfall of American-Iranian Relations," ​ Legacy, last modified 2011, accessed November 13, 2018, https://www.fpri.org/article/2009/09/the-u-s-and-iran-in-historical-perspective/. 3 IBRAHIMN, 3-4. ​ Mardirossian 9 of the Middle East pre and post-revolution; ultimately determining if they are all better off today as a result of the uprising. Understanding a country’s history is vital to providing perspective on its leaders and its people. The Qajar Dynasty, initially of Turkish origin, ruled Persia, now Iran, from 1794 to 1925 until a non-violent coup d’etat occurred in Tehran in 1921. An Iranian journalist, Sayyid Zia al Din Tabatabai led the coup along with the military forces of the Persian Cossack Brigade, which was led by their minister of war, Colonel Reza Khan. Three months after taking office, Tabatabai resigned and subsequently left the country. Reza Khan took over his duties of government oversight. Ahmad Shah, recognizing that he would be ousted as the Shah, appointed Reza Khan as prime minister and left the country, never to return.4 At this time the country was financially stable due to royalties from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Liberals and supporters of Reza Khan pressed for a republican regime like that of Turkey. Reza Khan was keen on this idea, but the Majlis(parliament) was strongly against dissolving the monarchy. Whereas, in February 1925, the Majlis appointed Reza Khan as a lifetime commander in chief of the armed forces. Reza Khan was opposed to social and military titles and set an example by choosing Pahlavi as his family name. Subsequently, the Qajar dynasty formally ended on October 31, 1925, when a new Majlis chose Reza Pahlavi as the first Shah of this new dynasty. After a formal coronation ceremony on April 25, 1926, Reza Pahlavi’s son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became the crown prince of Iran.5 4 Glenn E. Curtis and Eric J. Hooglund, Iran: A Country Study, 5th ed. (Washington, DC: ​ ​ ​ ​ Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 2008), 52. 5 Curtis and Hooglund, 52. ​ Mardirossian 10 A new era and dynasty began in Iran with Reza Shah Pahlavi’s rule from 1925 to 1941. His goals were to industrialize and westernize Iran with the intent of keeping and reimposing Iranian traditions that were in agreement with modernization. Also, in an effort to unify the culturally diverse country, the Majlis passed a “uniform dress law.” This law made western clothes a requirement, in that it would be easier for women to transition to the workforce from home life. Women wearing veils were also forbidden. Reforms took place in 1927, with the introduction of the French Judicial System, whereas civil marriage and divorce codes were established. These codes took the responsibility of civil law away from the religious leaders as well as their direct