Several opposition groups of diverse cultural and political perspectives voiced their support for Reza Pahlavi and regime change in Iran.
Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declared on July 26 that “a united opposition” to the Islamic dictatorship that has held power for more than 40 years was finally coming together as hundreds of people gathered in Munich on July 26 for the Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran.
Pahlavi’s communications team described it as “the largest, most diverse gathering of Iranian dissidents united for a democratic Iran,” with more than 500 people attending to create “the most diverse coalition ever established against the regime.”
“The purpose of this convention is to agree on a road map for a democratic transition and a plan for the reconstruction of the country,” it stated in a statement announcing the event.
The convention was designed to build momentum for regime change, and follows statements Pahlavi began making after the regime was crippled by Israel during the brief war between the two states in June.
“We are a united opposition. Together, we will bring freedom and prosperity to Iran,” he said on X.
Pahlavi was seen in the crowd of attendees waving the variant of the Iranian flag that bears a golden lion and sun in the middle. He spoke with several families, many of whom have lost loved ones to the current regime. On stage, representatives of a diverse array of political and religious groups rose in turn to declare their members’ support for Pahlavi’s push to upend the Islamist regime and replace it with a secular democratic government.
His press office said in its statement that attendees would “span the ideological spectrum of Iranian politics from left to right, monarchist and republican and will also represent the diverse array of Iran’s demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds including different religious, linguistic, ethnic and tribal groups.” This included the Kurds—a Sunni Muslim sect that has continued to face discrimination in the Shia Muslim regime.
Attendees included activists, artists, entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, former political prisoners, and athletes.
By T.J. Muscaro
