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At a ceremony in California on Tuesday evening, Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah of Iran, was honored with the Nixon Foundation’s Architect of Peace Award.
In his acceptance speech, Pahlavi said: “There is no one I stand more proudly side by side with than the people of Iran today. And I will stand with them until victory."
The award recognized his long-standing advocacy for human rights and peaceful change in Iran, while protests since 2022 have been met with violence by authorities.
During his speech, Pahlavi highlighted his vision for a peaceful and democratic Iran, committed to ensuring a transition from authoritarian rule to a secular democratic government. “I will work tirelessly to oversee and ensure that Iran undergoes a peaceful and secure transition to a secular democracy—one where every citizen can live as equals, free from any form of discrimination,” he emphasized.
Honoring the hundreds who have been killed by the Islamic Republic's security apparatus, in addition to hundreds more executed since 2022, Pahlavi paid tribute to the resilience of ordinary Iranians.
He called them the “real architects of peace” and acknowledged the sacrifices they continue to make in their quest for freedom.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, accompanied by his wife Yasmine Pahlavi, receives the Nixon Foundation’s Architect of Peace Award during a ceremony in California on October 22, 2024.“Despite everything, they continue to rise, they continue to fight for the realization of our great civilization,” he said, referencing the widespread protests that have swept Iran in recent years.
“It is because of them, my dear compatriots, that I have stayed in this fight. I seek nothing for myself, only to serve them. So as long as I live, I will continue my lifelong mission to free Iran from this oppressive regime. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the future of Iran is one of peace, democracy, and justice.”Pahlavi addressed the increasing instability in the Middle East, led by the Islamic Republic and its proxies at war with Israel and the West.
“This is the war of a dictator, Ali Khamenei, who thrives on division and conflict," he said. "The Iranian people do not seek war. They seek peace, security, and a future free from tyranny,” he remarked, distancing ordinary Iranians from the policies of the current leadership.
Iran’s last Queen, Farah Pahlavi, former US President Richard Nixon, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, and his son, Prince Reza Pahlavi (from left to right)Offering hope for the future as the movement against the Islamic Republic continues, he added: "We are nearing the day when the Iranian people will once again take their rightful place in the world—a free, democratic, and peaceful Iran. This is the future we seek. This is the future we will achieve.”
Over the years, this prestigious award has been presented to a distinguished group of leaders, including former Presidents Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush; former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Mike Pompeo; Senators Elizabeth Dole, Joe Lieberman, and John McCain; and Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, along with Robert C. O’Brien.
