My Fellow Compatriots,

The lifting of international economic and financial sanctions, which were imposed on the people of Iran as a result of provocative and destabilizing policies of the theocratic regime, could be a reason to rejoice.

The regime’s track record demonstrates its sole pursuit of self-interest and self-preservation, rather than national interests. Now, after inflicting various calamities on the Iranian people, we are witnessing the regime’s retreat, and once again (as Khomeini first said) had to drink poison from the chalice.

It has been the longstanding policy of Islamic Republic to take hostages or exchange Iranian-Americans hostages to win financial concessions from the West, in order to expand the sphere of the Islamic revolution in the region and beyond.

Today, we may imagine that by the removal of economic sanctions there could be a window of opportunity for the oppressed people of Iran. However, it is obvious to everyone, that the unfreezing of assets belonging to the people of Iran, will be effectively controlled by a regime that has neither the ability to govern nor the nation’s interest in mind.

Now, it is time to follow our national aspirations and not to forget that the Iranian people deserve a place among the top twenty nations in the world. Our nation should not be, and is not satisfied with the minimum which the theocratic regime has imposed on it for years.

It is time to look far beyond receiving minimum government subsidies, and at the prospects of ‘equality, welfare and security’ for all Iranians.

Now, it is time to take significant steps towards the realization of our national aspirations and interests. We shall join forces to continue our shared struggle with decisiveness to rebuild our beloved homeland. At this critical juncture, every Iranian has the obligation to contribute towards protecting our national interests, and to demand our inalienable rights with the intention of forcing the theocratic regime to retreat once again.

Reza Pahlavi

President of the Iran National Council