By Kayhan Life Staff
As the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes against Iran on Saturday, and President Trump urged Iranians to use the assault to topple the country’s clerical establishment, a nonpartisan Iranian American organization moved quickly to press Washington to support the platform associated with Reza Pahlavi.
Kayhan Life has obtained a letter sent to Michael Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, from Bijan Kian and Sam Kermanian, who co-founded the Institute for Voices of Liberty. In the letter, they ask the United States to support a set of principles they believe can unite Iranians both inside the country and abroad.
The letter lists four main principles: preserving Iran’s territorial integrity, protecting individual liberties and equality for all citizens, separating religion from the state, and affirming the Iranian people’s right to choose the democratic form of their future government.
This appeal follows comments Mr. Waltz made on Fox News on Feb. 19, where he said Iran’s opposition groups “would be wise” to unite if they want to offer a “viable option” to the Islamic Republic. He added, “There’s a number of groups out there. They would be wise to unite and present a viable option, but the regime has been trying to make sure that doesn’t happen for so many years, and that’s why they’ve massacred so many of their own people.”
In the same interview, Mr. Waltz said the President was “listening to everyone. He’s listening to our partners in the regime.” He also mentioned talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In their letter, Mr. Kian and Mr. Kermanian describe their organization as an example of the unity Mr. Waltz mentioned. They argue that Washington should focus less on rival factions and more on shared commitments among Iran’s opposition. “We are united in following the four principles as announced by Prince Reza Pahlavi and agreed by many Iranians inside and outside of Iran,” they wrote.
The authors emphasize that the Institute for Voices of Liberty is nonpartisan, including “Republicans” “Democrats,” and Iranians who support either a constitutional monarchy or a republic. They argue that these principles “transcend individual leadership.”
U.S. Assistance Arrives As Pahlavi Urges Iranian Forces To Join Transition, Public To Stand By
