"Pro-West" Iran's Last Crown Prince Says, "Iran Has Become North Korea, Not the South Korea of the Middle East"

[Financial News] Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, the last crown prince of the Pahlavi dynasty, drew a comparison with the Korean Peninsula by saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran should by now have become the Republic of Korea (South Korea) of the Middle East, but it has become North Korea instead."
Reza Pahlavi said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will seek fair relations with all countries, but because we desire a liberal democratic government, we inevitably have to prioritize the West as our ally and cooperation partner," adding, "Unlike the current government, Iranians seek peace and stability, and an improved quality of life through trade and commerce."
He went on to say, "At the time of the Iranian Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) five times higher than that of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Yet today, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become like North Korea," explaining, "This is not because we lack human resources or natural resources. It is because there is a regime that deprives people of their livelihoods, exploits the state and its resources, starves its people, and supports extremist terrorist groups and spies both inside and outside the region." He added, "The regime has survived until now only because appeasement policies have delayed its collapse."
He stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) will fall," and also expressed his intention to "return to Iran." As anti-government protests continue to erupt across the country, Reza Pahlavi is emerging as virtually the only viable opposition leadership figure capable of rallying public sentiment in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where there is no established opposition leader.
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chae-wan Reporter