Q: "The White House is worried that coming out too strong in support could do more harm than good. What do you think?"

A: Bunch of BS about how the people are legitimate that doesn't answer the question.

Q: What do you think the White House should do?

A: Another non-answer.

Who is this joker? Joe the plumber could have given more specifics than this guy. Does he have any ideas or opinions at all?

The desire for basic personal freedom can move mountains. A human's right to be free is inherent – God given – and it is no surprise that these security forces are turning. This is a very exciting time in Iran's history. Let's hope a free Iran emerges with minimal bloodshed. Unfortunately, freedom isn't always free.

The iranians need to figure this out. America has problems here at home and need to tend to their own business. Leave Iran alone.

I remember growing up that people always talked about bringing the Shah's son back to power one day. Since the Iranian people really don 't have a leader yet would it go back to that point where people are going to look for the Shah's son to come back to power or to look for him as a leader.
In addition, I wanted to also add that if whats going on in Iran dies down and the next elections come up. I don't believe anyone is going to bother to vote especially after this incident. It will no longer be in our hearts anymore and we will feel beaten. At that point the government will be a dictatorship and it will no longer be for the people.
If anyone or any country wants to act I believe that now is the time.

That is what they should encourage to be done by security forces. Since past days my friends and I were discussing this matter. People, Army, and security forces should united inorder to get rid of these blood thirsty regim....please support this idea. The regim does whatever it can to stay in power. The prince should be able to do somthing although some people say they don't want monarchs in Iran. But I am sure he is the best now.

I'm appalled to think that this is the son of a ruthless dictator talking bout freedom and democracy in the country where it didn't exist even before the revolution.
The shah ran Iran like his private estate with feared secret police.
Reza Pahlavi could do better by returning billions of dollars his family kept from the oil revenue to Iran. But then again – why bother – the people get nothing at the end.

Like I've been saying all along. The beginnings of civil war.

I did happen to hear Mr. Palhlavi's address yesterday, and I was very impressed. I sympathize with the Iranians as their fight is just beginning. Mr. pahlavi made it very clear that it wasn't about the election that brought about all this protest, it was about a people wanting to be free, longing for a democracy and a country that they be proud of. It helped me realize that they are ordinary folks much like ourselves looking for a better life.
Mr. Pahlavi was very sincere and very believable, answering all the tough questions that the media asked him. I would certainly like to see President Obama sit down with him and reassure him that we are on his side.
I was very much encouraged that perhaps someday soon we would see a ne Iran emerge that will contribute to the good of the Middleeast.

I only wish I could help these people with their fight for freedom ~ Believe in your dreams!

Every human being, wherever in the world is entitled to freedom. The Bush administration removed some of our freedom's in the name of security,,,,,what a joke that is. Hopefully Obama will change those things that Bush took away from us. The price of freedom usually comes at a high price,,,,,,the price usually means death to some unfortunate individuals. The people in Iran deserve much better than what they have now, The rulers of Iran apparently treat their people worse than animals are treated. I would tell the Iranians,,,,,,hang in there. UNITED YOU STAND,,,,DIVIDED YOU FALL. Good luck to all of you brave souls,,,,,you undoubtedly are going to need a lot of good luck.

Why don"t you ask Mr. Jimmy Carter to help, After all it was him who withdrew all backing to the Shah and bring the ayotallah Khomeini to power and this in the name of democracy, and not accepting him as a political refugee in the US. and this after all the help the US got from him.Mr. Carter stop meddling between Israel and Hamas, and try to correct a problem that you created and all the death that resulted from the terrorist regime you help to create.

Hey you guys , is'nt this the same prince whiose father(shah) slaughtered many thiusands. I seem to recall that he had the most feared secret police(savak) that pulled out toe nails and shot many nedas. I guess this guy was too young to know all that but the CNN interviewers have no such excuse.

There is no mention of the slaughter and years of slavery the iranians threw off when the shah was dictator, Good job CNN. Bonus are on their way from Tel Aviv.

We do not need the son of the former shah stating his opinion. His father and the CIA are two of the reasons Iran is in this mess. USA needs to stay out of Iran and let the Persians do their own work. They know what they are doing. They have been around a lot longer than us...

This is probably the most reliable and sensible view on the Iranian situation that anyone can expect. From a man who grew up there and has watched the various 'leaders' over the past 30 years or so. The U.S. cannot afford to be silent forever on foreign affairs. It has been proved time and again that isolationism does NOT work.
Lincoln called this country the "last, best hope for mankind on Earth."

For God sake why are you giving this guy a platform? Iranians in Iran dont want him back. You are giving thr regime an excuse to kill more people by blaming him.

Obama is doing exactly what should have been done a century ago STAY OUT OF OTHER COUNTRY BUSINESS

Obama cannot be running off at the mouth and then have to deal with Iran concerning the real or imagined nuclear threat from Iran.

We have not condemned Israel for the human rights abuse of the Palestinians, the taking of their land and building residences on it and even building concrete barriers between the Palestinians homes and their olive orchards.

We have not condemned Israel for their nuclear capabilities or the blowing up and bulldozing of the headquarters of the Palestinians and many other buildings, even those who are housing refugees.

Oh, please give me a break, Reza Pahlavi’s father was the one who gave up the country to mullahs and he is the reason of all these troubles and problems of Iranian people in Iran right now. This family should never even think to go back to Iran in order to govern Iran again, most of Iranians hate them especially his father. Like son, like father. We Iranian people never go back and never eat what we throw up 30 years ago.

So a dictators son wants America to defend freedom in his homeland.

Why did CNN even interview this guy? Does anyone in Iran care what this guy thinks?

Pahlavi, like his father, has no legitimacy with Iranians. Showcasing him and his opinions will do nothing but harm the reform movement in Iran.

It was the Princes father, The Shah who the US put in power and whose corrupt regime the US supported enslaved his people who is largely responsible for the current situation. He has nothing to say in the matter.

As americans we can not stand still and watch inoccent people being beaten and killed. They are crying for help and we are just watching. Please support the people of Iran for their quest in peace and justice.

It is time for U.S. leadership to fully stand for freedom, ethics, morals, the high road .... if we were in High School would we stand up to the bully when he is picking on weaker individuals? when a thug in New York is mugging a person do we simply walk by?

Don't just use words like "unjust" which has different definitions in different cultures Mr. President. Make a truly firm statement that says what America stands for and that we expect the Iranian government to live up to those principles and that there will be consequences if they don't .... you don't even need to mention the election results or who you prefer as a winner ... but you do need to stand on your own two feet, square your shoulders toward the bully and challenge him with a statement that points him to higher standards ... and if he punches you in the nose (so to speak) at least he isn't punching our weaker brothers.

Well If the so called prince joins with the protesters he need to do it over the internet. They Iranian goverment will kill him if he goes to Iran. But he could get them fired up even more with his words for freedom.If they could bring the Iranian Goverment down and get enough turn coats. Ahmadinejad and the supreme leader will be heading to Brazil for safety. That would be funny...

We have come to the aid of countries in the midst of civil war many times, i.e. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and it always seems they want our help initially but after awhile, they more or less say "ok, we can take it from here" but we (the U.S.) don't get the hint and leave! And then that country end up disliking us! I think President Obama should let them know we are for their cause and offer them moral support and maybe more, if they so desire. . . but not our men! They seem to be pretty smart people over there, they are way more modern than I thought they were, so we can hand them sophisicated tanks or weaponry and an instruction manual and I'm sure they will figure it out how to use it without us ever being there!

god blees them its time for a change i rember when the shah was in power and carter was in the white house i hope it dont turn out to be a blood bath

Earlier this morning I sent the following message to President Obama.

Mr. President,

Something to consider. Together with many other countries I suggest that we celebrate with the brave people of IRAN their sacrifice to achieve freedom with justice. Furthermore, I suggest that together, all citizens of the world stop whatever they are doing and say a prayer, express their support or join hand with someone else to silently show our solidarity with the people of IRAN.

Thank you

Pahlavi said, "This has become a defiance against a regime that has denied every right to its citizenry."

So they have become your father's regime then. The Shah was a horrible despotic leader as well. The SAVAK killed and imprisoned thousands under his rule, the only differance is that there is a new horrible despotic leader now.

Do you think you could do a better job? I hope you don't think that they would be somehow better off with another absoulote monarchy. What Iran (and the U.S.) needs is a true democracy. Where the people can choose their leader. They don't need the son of their disgraced former King to come back and mess things up even more.
Your family has done more than enough for the people of Iran.

I cannot believe that CNN is giving Reza Pahlavi the opportnity to speak.

His father, the former Shah, claimed to be descended from the original ruler of Iran but in reality the former Shah's father was just an army general without any royal lineage who overthrew the Qajar dynasty that ruled Iran for hundreds of years. They have no royal lineage.

Worse still, the fomer Shah tortured and killed thousands of his enemies and was a brutal dictator. His memory deserves no honor.

I am a supporter of the protesters. However, we need to keep in mind of the potential lies from this "prince" Reza Pahlavi.

Remember Muhamad Chalabi and his cronies? They lied to us and to the Bush administration for their own gains.

This guy and his supporters may try to fool us "naive" Americans this time. We cannot and should not even give them a platform to spread lies and rumors that would benefit no one but them.

Regards,

Richard

i'm an iranian american and leave in the greatest country u.s. what we expect from Mr. president obama is that to support iranians ....remember iranians biggest enemies are iranian regime and second RUSSIA....U.S. has to come up with the new ideas to create more problems for russia keep the busy, so they don't interfere with this movement.

please support us

thanks

I really think the middle east needs a new parking lot. Too bad our president is too soft to do anything about it.

Unfortunately Mr Pahlevi is not a believable source. His father's regime, however friendly to the west, was not a light of freedom in the Middle East.
I suspect the Iranian security forces will, as have all other repressive regimes, eventually overcome the resistance.
This will be followed by a flood of new refugees to Europe and the U.S. and Canada.
Meanwhile, Ahmedinejad and his hard liners will continue their pursuit of nuclear weapns.

Prince Raze Pahlavi is the only one who can unite all Iranians with different ethnic groups. He didn't have anything to do with what his father did. He is well educated and knows what Iranians want/need.
Trust me, with the past experiences he has from the fall of his father and living in exile he would put his life for IRAN and IRANIANS.

Majority of Iranians believe that he is the only one capable of bringing prosperity and respect back to Iran and revive Persian culture by eliminating barbaric /backward Arabic culture from IRAN.

I loved this interview and I appreciated the comments by Mr. Pahlavi.

The son of the shah talking about bringing freedom to Iran? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

As much as the US would like to help the Iranian people, we can not. There is far too much history of American interference in that country. If the US was to get directly involved, it would shift the focus away from the Iranian people and towards US foreign policy. The opposition would be seen as 'American puppets' and it would give the hard liners in power ammunition to wage a propaganda campaign that would undermine the legitimacy of the protests.

In short, all the US can and should do is watch, wait and pray.

I would love nothing more than for Ahmadinejad and the ayatollah to be overthrown, but the U.S. needs to not be involved. One, this would feed the Muslim world's cry that America and Britain "run" the Middle East. Two is obvious: how soon would it take for America to become the "occupiers"? Rather quickly. Once the dictator is removed, we are the big bullies again.

My hopes and prayers to the Iranian people for what is God-given: free will and self determination. They must make it happen for themselves if they are to make the most of it.

President Obama. Please speak up.
Enough is enough. The time of strategy is over. The time to help is now!!!! Don't let this slip through the cracks of time.
For 30 years there has never been a better time to ally with Islam. You need the Iraian peoples support. If you do nothing, you risk creating a bigger gap than the one you are trying to narrow.
The Iranian people need at least the knowledge that you support them. I am not asking you to send in the tanks. I am asking you to unite the worlds support and pressure the regime to stop the violence.
Let the people know the world supports them to give them the strength to overthrow this reigme. They already have the courage but they cannot do it on their own.
They are courageous and brave but they need the moral support of knowing the world is behind them.
The time is now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There were complaints against the Shah before he was deposed but on assumption of power the Islamic government killed more people among their political opposition just in the first year than the Shah did in all his entire reign of power. While the legitimacy of the Pahlavi family as being Iranian royalty is questionable their regime was not any where as bad as the regimes of Khomeini and Khameini.

I am Reza Pahlavi's age and I do remember when people were in the street shouting "Death to the Shah". America, or Mr. Carter, decided to voice its opinion then and asked Shah to leave the country because "his people didn't want him anymore" when there were just bunch of thugs and clergies were on the streets, by the way, the same people who are now beating these young Iranians to death for doing the same exact thing! And now that people really don't want their leader and in fact, are shouting in what really is an Iraninan people's protest " Death to Khamenei" America decides that it is diplomatic to stay quite and not get involved. I wonder why? What benefit did America have then to take Shah out and what benefit does it have to keep this regime?

Mr. Pahlavi's comments are correct. I am watching the events in Iran in total amazement. The people of Iran are to be commended for their determination to stop the supreme leader and his government from its abuses. Sooner or later the majority of the security forces will throw down their weapons and openly join the people. I wish the Iranian people well and see Iran becoming a stellar model of democracy in the Middle East..

Obama -Support a Free Iran-

The Shah was a tyrant ... he also brought Iran into the 20th century. They had more highly educated people than any nation (except Israel) in the Middle East. Their people enjoyed far greater individual freedoms than now. Their economy was more advanced too. Their people travelled all over the world as exchange students (so much for internal security). They were an stable, non-imperialistic neighbor. I guess there always are two sides to every story.

Where in the hell is the 'United Nations'?

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, THE PEOPLE OF IRAN MUST STAND UP AND TAKE OVER.... IT IS THERE FREEDOM.
I FEEL NO MATTER WHICH STAND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TAKES WE WILL WIND UP BEING THE BAD GUY'S

SOMETIMES THE BLOOD OF FREEDOM HAS TO BE SHED. IRANIANS NEED TO SHED THERE OWN BLOOD NOT AMERICANS

Why is CNN giving any airtime to this son-of-a-dictator? This will be used against the US by Ahmadinejad as an example of how the US is behind this movement. This only helps Ahmadinejad..

The Shah was a dictator who killed his own people. The Shah was put in power by Eisenhower when we overthrew the elected government in 1953. After this the US allowed him to rule as a dictator. This is the root of the resentment against the US government.

In 1951 Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh was elected prime minister. As prime minister, Mossadegh became enormously popular in Iran after he nationalized Iran's oil reserves. In response, Britain embargoed Iranian oil and, amidst Cold War fears, invited the United States to join in a plot to depose Mossadegh, and in 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized Operation Ajax. The operation was successful, and Mossadegh was arrested on 19 August 1953.

why are you interviewing this guy
The shaw and his family are hated worse than the Ayatollah

he does not speak for the Iranian people

How much is "many"?

Most Americans stand with the protestors in Iran. I think it is important that with let them know how much we support them and their cause through all and any type channel we can. They are risking their lives for democracy in the country they live in. We know how much we appreciate democracy in our country and they should be afforded the same if they desire. People of Iran, we love you and want to be your friends! We stand with you against the the broken system you're fighting against. People of the US, let us fload the channels with our support so that they may be encouraged to fight on.

We have a lot to contend with at home, war on two fronts, and handling the threats from North Korea. Our voice will can only encourage in a small way. The tables may turn if the defiance in Iran become too bold with the leaders really turning to massive violence.

Our Armed Forces are so stretched now and can no longer respond as adequately as necessary to 'brush fires' around the world. This is an internal matter of Iran and will have to finally be determined by them.

When things settle, we can keep dialogue and diplomacy alive and hope to progress in a more positive direction.

MMMM, it has been 30 years since we have heard from the Shahs'. Is he the son of a dictator that not only totured his own freedom-fighters, but had the worst and most brutal secret service in the history of mankind. It is a joke for him to stick his out of the whole and support the kids his father once tortured their parents. Shame on his face to take advantage of such honorable revolution taking place right now in Iran. And this guy(I still don't understand why we call him a prince)
wants freedom for these people.?/??? Reza, go back to your hole, and shut up. Does he remember the golden faucets, showers, door handles his dad had in his 13 Palaces through out hte country?????, and now he is speaking og main street people , freedom, rights, is he seriuos or is he laughing at us.

June 23rd, 2009 11:24 am ET

The iranians need to figure this out. America has problems here at home and need to tend to their own business. Leave Iran alone.
********

Funny how libs want to be isolationists. How in the world would it hurt the United States to walk the walk about human rights? To stand up and say something to the Iranian people. To show our support, even if it is limited. BO's silence is a disgrace and I am ashamed of this country. Regan stood up to Russia for Poland. Look where they are now. What happened to the might of this great country that shined the becon of freedom to the world? Its nothing but a wimpering shell. Oh I forgot... Change we can beleive...

Hey Naz the Iranians, my friend, have to fight their own battles there is no way around it. If another country jumps in to help it will be a very short time and they will be called devils, conquerors, crusaders, western trouble makers, whatever, the assisting country will not be looked upon benevolently. Iranians allowed themselves to be controlled by their religion and controlling mullas who were looking for power and and wanted to be seen as God on earth. They use your religion and your love of God against you by lying openly to you about Gods wishes for you. God needs no one to speak for him. He has already told us what he wants from us thousands of years ago and he does not often repeat himself. Peace, and brotherhood and love your neighbor is what he wants, anything else is man made lies.

My advise is gather together and fight, convert all those who dislike where they are now and you can prevail, there are no shortcuts it could take years but if you keep it up you will be successful. Once you succeed never again let one man or group of men take your freedoms away. Never trust anyone who promises to take care of you, take care of yourselves and your families, help others help themselves. All politicians, clergymen and governments lie, cheat and steal. Keep the power to make changes with the people and you stand a better chance of getting the life you want. Keep your religion OUT of your Government it will only cause problems there.

I can't believe all this coverage is being given to the Iran situation. Yes there are a few thousand people demonstrating, but the day after the election there HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS cheering for their president. Those same CITIZENS are in the Basiji militia that is clearing the streets as we speak. People try to dehumanize them by calling them basiji militiamen, but they are just regular people who believe the election was correct and want to live in peace and order.

The election was 60% to 30%!!! HOW DO YOU fraud 30% of the votes???? it's impossible. The supreme leader realized it, the election council realized it, and it's time the moussavi supporters realize it.

President Bush won both elections by less than 3% and there was CLEAR election irregularities in Florida, which decided the election. Hundreds of thousands protested and then stopped because the Supreme court handed down a verdict. 3% vs. 30% which election was more likely rigged?

And this "prince" is a pathetic wannabe who will never be allowed into Iran lest he be hanged with his first step off the boat, so I don't know why he has any credibility. He is a traitor to Iran and his words are poison.

For some reason people think that because we state support of the people of Iran, that means we are sending in the military. If anything, saying the people of America support Iran may inspire the masses to continue with their revolt and possibly toppling the dictatorship they currently have.

As an American, I am very limited in the help I can provide. But my opinion is that the election was fraudulent and should be help again. That's apparent just based on the mathematics. And the Supreme Leader needs to account for Neda since her blood is on his hands. The paramilitary needs to account for the blood of Neda. These people are human beings first. When the bloody regime forgot that, they lost themselves.

I see from the many comments here, that too many of us have inherited the mind of the former slave/colonial masters. We think that it is all right for us to dictate to other countries. If we don't like what's going on 'over there,' we should either do something secretly to undermine 'them' or invade with our military. The 'racist' colonialist of the past had a saying 'The white mans' burden.' It meant that they (the so-called 'white man') had been given the right by G-D to dominate the 'dark races' of the earth. They truly believed that G-D had chosen them to be the leaders of the world. They don't say it openly now but the mind is still the same. It is okay for certain nations to posses nuclear capabilities but it is not okay for others. It seems strange that the nations not allowed to have it are the same ones that were part of the so-called 'dark races' in the past. India, Pakistan and China achieved nuclear capability in secret. If the European nations knew they were trying during those times, they would have treated them the same as North Korea, and Iran is being treated now.

Don't be too hasty to call the Shah a murderer and to think the Qajar dynasty was any better. Not all Iranians that I have spoken with think the Shah was all that bad. History shows that Agha Mohammad Khan brutally murdered the desendant of the Zand dynasty to bring the Qajar dynasty to power. Even had him a pile of 20,000 eyeballs. Murdered all the men in the city of Kerman 1794? The Qajar dynasty was no more legitimate then the present Saudi government.

There comes a time in the rule of any SUPREME LEADER when they become totally self serving and out of touch with everthing. Absolute power corrupts...this is why Amadinajan suites the Supreme Leader...he is a fanatic who can take the blame if it all back fires. They've forgotten the reason for the revolution was freedom not opression. Sad...lovely people and they need support.

Why is this son of a repressive dictator even relevant? He undoubtedly hasn't set foot in Iran for over thirty years, so his expertise ceoms from where exactly?

Are we hoping to return this guy to the "throne"or something? Didn't we learn our lessons the first time around?

Statement of Congressman Ron Paul
United States House of Representatives
Statement Opposing Resolution on Iran

June 19, 2009
I rise in reluctant opposition to H Res 560, which condemns the Iranian government for its recent actions during the unrest in that country. While I never condone violence, much less the violence that governments are only too willing to mete out to their own citizens, I am always very cautious about “condemning” the actions of governments overseas. As an elected member of the United States House of Representatives, I have always questioned our constitutional authority to sit in judgment of the actions of foreign governments of which we are not representatives. I have always hesitated when my colleagues rush to pronounce final judgment on events thousands of miles away about which we know very little. And we know very little beyond limited press reports about what is happening in Iran.

Of course I do not support attempts by foreign governments to suppress the democratic aspirations of their people, but when is the last time we condemned Saudi Arabia or Egypt or the many other countries where unlike in Iran there is no opportunity to exercise any substantial vote on political leadership? It seems our criticism is selective and applied when there are political points to be made. I have admired President Obama’s cautious approach to the situation in Iran and I would have preferred that we in the House had acted similarly.

I adhere to the foreign policy of our Founders, who advised that we not interfere in the internal affairs of countries overseas. I believe that is the best policy for the United States, for our national security and for our prosperity. I urge my colleagues to reject this and all similar meddling resolutions. – HOUSE.GOV

Pahlavi should shut up, his father and thier poor management planted the seeds for the revolution. Iranians do not want this guy and his thieving cronies around and giving him a forum just helps the mullahs and Ahmadinijad.
Obama is right, it was George Bushes axis of evil speech and saber rattling which the hard liners exploited to beat Khatami, a reformist president, and Obama has to be carefull not to fuel untrue claims of outside interference.
CNN is very very irresponsible to give a forum to Pahlavi, who is an irrelavant person who will only serve to help Ahmadinijad.
Mr. Pahalavi, before you cry for Neda, remeber the 400+ students your father's secret police, the SAVAK, killed when they lit a crowded theatre on fire and blocked the exits back in 79, and how they would torture and murder at will. Remember how your father ordered the execution of your own cousin for plotting aginst him and ordered the execultioner to use three strokes of the blade to kill him.
The Shah was a dictator, we dont need another dictator.

The Iranans, in Iran need to resolve their own issue. Any outside interference will will be taken as invasive.

Let the people of Iran fight for their own values and leaders. Wehave enough problems without adding theirs to ours. I wish them all luck. Maybe if the people of Iran fought for their own ideals, valus, and leaders, it would mean more to them than having another country coming in to theirs and bailing them out.

The people negatively criticizing Pres Obama for not taking direct action in Iran (which would then make the revolt about the USA, not the Iranian people) need to study their history when Republican Pres Eisenhower decided, with similiar difficulty, not to take direct action in Hungary's revolt in 1956.

McCain and colleagues blast Obama–but they say nothing of Eisenhower's decision. (Anyway, isn't partisanship supposed to end at our borders so we present a unified foreign policy?)

I support Obama.

Mike

Riitta Carufel, San Diego,CA June 23rd, 2009 11:30 am ET

I’m appalled to think that this is the son of a ruthless dictator talking bout freedom and democracy in the country where it didn’t exist even before the revolution.
The shah ran Iran like his private estate with feared secret police.
Reza Pahlavi could do better by returning billions of dollars his family kept from the oil revenue to Iran. But then again – why bother – the people get nothing at the end.

I could not agree more with Riitta Carufel!! My husband is originally from Iran. The Shah was nothing more than a dictator who raped the Iranian people of their country's riches and savagely tortured and killed his countrymen who opposed him. Reza Pahlavi is nothing more than a wannabe and living off the riches his father stole from the Iranian people. To hear him and his mother speak of democracy and human rights is such a joke! Where was his mother's sympathy for her countrymen while she was playing Queen?

I think the reason our President does not speak more forcefully is that he supports theocratic dicatatorships.. Why else would he refer to the Khamenei as the "Supreme Leader", or why bow to the King of Saudi Arabia.

didnt the iranians vote overwhelmingly for the current religious authoritarian structure years ago during the revolution? so why are they expecting their voice to be heard now?

you reap what you sow...

The Iranian Government will do many things to maintain control. Many of them quite brutal. It is up to the citizens of any country to remove leadership which they disapprove of. The higher the leaders level, the more violent the removal will be.

If the citizens, including their own military personnel, truly dislike their current leadership, then this will rapidly evolve into a full blown civil war. The US cannot help their situation.

It is up to the citizens themselves to reject their leadership. If this once happens, then the new powers that be, can ask for US support, but that will be several bloody months, and possibly years from now.

I wish the best to the people of Iran. I hope they successfully fight for the freedoms they deserve.

Best to let the country decide its own fate. Shoving our noses in will solve nothing, and it will only give the radical leaders a club to hit the people over the head with. The people will lose if they depend on us to do anything more than scold, because we don't want to get militarily involved in another country that doesn't want us there, doesn't need us there, and would only cause more chaos and destruction than is happening already. The end of the regime is in sight; why not let the collapse of the radicals happen and negotiate with whatever takes the current leadership's place. It will likely be military rule, and the people will have to deal with that ultimately before they actually will be able to take over the destiny of Iran, but it will happen. Popular revolts are put down for only a while; then the will of the people will emerge. We don't need to be in any hurry. We have enough on our plate already. Let Iran solve its own problems.

Let us not forget that the power lies with those who hold the big stick.This is a theocracy and until a fracture occurs in this group the people will die in the strreets..

US policy is not based on sympathy with Iranian people. It's based on its national interest. Unfortunatly, the current govenment in Iran is good for the interest of US and West. I strongly beleive that US govement does not want to see a regime change in Iran.

The US should not be acting alone but participating in the international community that addresses things like this. If there was a crime, then the UN should address it. If not, we should stay out of it. Our decision to impose our authority over that of Iraq and the UN is what put us in a no win situation in Iraq. Hopefully we will never do that again soon. Let's go get Bin Laden and let the rest of these countries handle their own mess until we are invited by the UN to help.

President Obama is doing exactly what he needs to do...stand back and let the people of Iran take their country back. How hypocrital of the United States to rush in and condemn Iran for a rigged election when in 2000 (Bush vs. Gore), our President was appointed by the Supreme Court...not elected by the people. And in 2004, the election was stolen (Ohio). We should have had the guts the Iranians have and been in the streets protesting. We are responsible for the mess that the last 8 years have wrought by sitting back and doing absolutely nothing while an illigitimate ruler (Bush) ran this country. Other countries could have refused to recognize the United States as a legitimate government.

President Obama is doing exactly what he needs to do…stand back and let the people of Iran take their country back. How hypocritical of the United States to rush in and condemn Iran for a rigged election when in 2000 (Bush vs. Gore), our President was appointed by the Supreme Court…not elected by the people. And in 2004, the election was stolen (Ohio). We should have had the guts the Iranians have and been in the streets protesting. We are responsible for the mess that the last 8 years have wrought by sitting back and doing absolutely nothing while an illegitimate ruler (Bush) ran this country. Other countries could have refused to recognize the United States as a legitimate government.

how can you have a dictators son and wife talk about democracy in iran. the savak where one of the most brutal forces in iran under the shah and over threw the first elected government, than plundered the country on the way out. read "all the shah's men. this family are crimminals and should not be given a place to speak. i do not see one question from you about that history.

I find it interesting that Reza Pahlavi the son of a dictator is talking about democracy.
His father ran a dictatorial monarchy.

Want going on in Iran is identical to any government the based on a religious tenant.
A dictator is a dictator regardless if there commissioned by G-D or a monarchy.

I am shocked that CNN would give the son of the former Shah (royalty) that the United States CIA helped install as leader of Iran a prominent place in their coverage. Why?

Americans with a short memory or a young age should know that the US with the help of the British overthrew a democratically elected prime minister in Iran (Mohammed Mossadegh) 50 years ago to help secure private oil interests and authoritarian anti-communist leanings. We meddled in their elections before and helped create resentment for the Shah and the eventual swing to Khomenei. We have ourselves to thank. And the Iranians remember our intrusion in their affairs.

Since the Iranians as a people generally like Americans as a people – not our government. Why would we encourage our government to interfere and give the leadership there an excuse to crack down because of an American " conspiracy?" We're not that dumb are we?

By the way...August 18 marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-orchestrated, and very successful, coup against Iran's elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The ouster could be analyzed and judged as the first case of a CIA-crafted, covertly executed "regime change."

"Operation Ajax" restored the briefly deposed Shah of Iran to the Peacock Throne, where he would reign for more than a quarter-century. It kept oil-rich Iran firmly in the American corner during the Cold War. It paved the way for operations such as the equally successful coup in Guatemala in 1954. And it was also obviously the lineal ancestor of such "successes" with mixed long-term outcomes as the assassination of pro-U.S. but heavy-handed strongmen Trujillo of the Dominican Republican in 1961 and Diem of South Vietnam in 1963.

This is one case where we -have- to stand back a bit. Iran's government, in part derives it's power from where all power should- it's people. If we step in, we dilute that power and give it's suppressors- the current regime- excuses to do so. Obama's got the right idea- by not putting so much as a finger into the mess, Iran's vote-riggers have no straw man to burn to distract people from what's been done. They stuffed the ballot boxes and rigged the election for the regime's puppet.

Iran's body politic is discovering their "revolution" is lying to them. They made that government come to pass, and have the strength to unmake it for better IF we trust them to do so. Let them be and know that when the dust settles, it will be their victory and not the manipulation of outsiders.

Give me a break. CNN hit an all time low in interviews. Did you run out of people to bring on your show and solicit their opinion? After parading every self professed "expert", like a news reader for the international desk (namdar), an author (badri), a fruit salesman (mohamad) in a LA souq, and any on else getting their 15 minutes of fame, you bring out the wimpy, worthless son of a man the parents of these very people overthrew 30 years ago?? Where has he been the last 30 years? I tell you, living it up in the US and Switzerland, having a bunch of American children, marrying a daughter of another wealthy Iranian thief, and now, he cries for our Neda". A bleeping break please!
crawl back to the cave you have been hiding in, Reza Pahlavi, and stay there spending the billions your family stole from the hands of hard working Iranians. Iran stopped being "your" country when you and your father left it there to rot.

Iran is a sovereign nation that is to be respected for their beliefs and position. We, who are a free country and believe in freedom of speech and religion should respect their ways and not be myopic about the differences between us.

We should only take a stand if humanity's rights/life are being threatened. Right now, they are running the country the way they want to, as is their right to. We should not interfere yet.

If the US is to truly take a step forward as a benevolent country it must not arbitrarily mingle into other countries issues. Patience and wisdom is needed, else all of our good work will be for naught, and tyranny will persist.

Hmmm... Daddy Pahlavi and the CIA got along really well. And his secret police were at least as effective as the current ones. Call it a draw, with the actual people living there losing no matter what.

The Neocons are raising their severed heads and giving us the imperialism agenda _we know what's good for you- that carried and buried us in Iraq. They and this dictator's son have no
credibility They belong on Fox news the network that caters to failure in political rhetoric.. Don't be too quick to join the opposition who hate the regime and love to scream Death to America. Obama is so much smarter than the neocon ninconpoops . Wake up and remember the mess that this type of thinking created.

If the former Shah was half as bad as people say, he would have stayed in power by brute force as the Ayatollahs do. The Shah's "weakness" was every bit as strong as his desire to rule firmly. The world has changed and the former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and the Iranian people have been promoting a better Iran long before Obama left Chicago. Whether there is a place in the future Iran for Reza Pahlavi is up to the Iranian people, but Americans of the left and right should show their solidarity for Iranian democracy, their respect for Persian history and their revulsion of the grim rule of the Ayatollahs.

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. Do not be fooled, we need another 1776 in our own country.

Iranians will have to figure this one out as they did 30 years ago and further back in their history. Democracy and freedom are earned and not flown in on the backs of those who fought for it and earned it in their own time and historical setting. This is not a mail order diploma. It's not that we are not empathetic with the cause of freedom in Iran. Iranians have set up a system which obviously needs changing and it will have to be the struggle of this generation.

The Soviet Union – known for its oppressive ways – fell once enough people inside the system were able to demand change. Change did not happen overnight there and will probably not happen overnight in Iran. Maybe Iranians in diaspora can help with this plight on deeper levels than the bureaucratic machines of the "western" nations. Maybe the prince can aid in this movement. The past is the past – what do people want now. It's hard to truly grasp the pulse of all Iranians under such a tight ass regime.

Back in 1973 at Okla State student told me about freedojm in Iran, "I cannot talk about that..." I asked why. "Secret police, Savak." he replied. H believed he was being watched even in Oklahoma! I would be very leery of any Pahlavi taking power in Iran again.

Prince Pahlavi is in the same "outsider" position as Khomeni was in France during the '79 revolution.

Yes, CNN did miss the real story here.

And anyone who wants Obama to PUBLICLY support one side or the other is a fool. I suggest using the CIA like we did in Poland. We helped but only BEHIND the scenes and only in logistics.

Many Iraninan that participated in the 1979 revolution regret it. Majority of Iraninans refer to the Shah's days as their happy phase of their lives. Keep in mind that under the Shah, there was complete social freedom, economic prosperity, great international relations, Iraninan passpord was as good as gold and welcomed and Rial was powerful.
I have had a few trips to Iran and I was amazed how many people like Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Look I don't want us going into Iran. With that said words can have a profound impact.

Beneath this mask is not flesh and blood, no beneath this mask is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof.

If terrorists want this regime gone then they should and probably could systematically blow up government buildings. The people have the power to over throw their government. However that has to come from the people themselves or the new regime is just a puppet.

A people shouldn't fear their government the government should fear their people. And finally since the Quoran has mentionings of Christianty in it as well as being an Abrahamic religion. If you had the faith of a mustard seed you can move a mountain. The words of 1 man moved the world like no one had seen before or since.

While I sympathize with the struggles of the Iranian people I also believe that all of this talk about the white house needing to do something needs to stop. We are the bearers of freedom and democracy this is true but that does not mean that we have to place the lives of the American people at stake to solve another countries political issues. I read article after article of how the East cannot stand the West and the ways that we lead our lives and our country, and in the same breath I hear complaints that the west is not helping enough during times of struggles such as this. You cannot have it both ways, either accept western ideals and the right for the west to have their own ideals and accept our democratic system or denounce the west and our system and don't come looking for help for every uprising your country will have. In the end it ends up bad for the west anytime we place our noses into a situation that isn't ours. We need to tend to business at home. Good luck Iranians and god bless.

Obama cannot come out in favor of the people of Iran because that would point to the fact that President Bush was right, if we can get a couple of countries in the mid-east to become democracies (of sorts) and give some freedom to their people (examples: Iraq and Afghanistan) then the other regimes in the area would soon topple. It will be a long slow process, fraut with mistakes, but the people will gain their freedom. The people of Iran see the advances freedom has given to Iraq and now want to emulate it. I hope the Saudis are next.

June 23rd, 2009 11:34 am ET

Hey you guys , is’nt this the same prince whiose father(shah) slaughtered many thiusands. I seem to recall that he had the most feared secret police(savak) that pulled out toe nails and shot many nedas. I guess this guy was too young to know all that but the CNN interviewers have no such excuse.

There is no mention of the slaughter and years of slavery the iranians threw off when the shah was dictator, Good job CNN. Bonus are on their way from Tel Aviv
********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Hey Joe what part of Iran are you in now?

Please someone tell this Pahlavi guy to go back to his shell that he has been for the past 31 years while people have been suffering in Iran. The great nation of Iran does not need a puppet like him to speak on their behalf. His family hijacked the country for 37 years and they continue to live lavishly abroad with the billions of Iran's oil money that belongs to great nation of Iran. Who is he to tell the world what needs to be done in Iran. He should be ashamed of himself to even show his face on national TV.

They need a full blown revolution and overthrow the gov't.

It's now or never for the world to help out the people of Iran.

No matter what choice the President makes he will be vilified. All those that have spoken out about his choices will remain woefully silent until he does something. Then they will speak only to condem.

Michael Wagner said it all.
ALSO,The Iranian people welcomed Ayatollah Khomeini with smiles and open arms when he returned from exile in Paris,while chanting
'death to america,the great satan!This went on for years.We should stay out of it!Sink or swim,you're on your own!

Fair and balanced news reporting. I thought CNN could do far better than Fox in staying neutral and educating people about this situation. Instead, I see the son of the Shah – that the US CIA helped install with the British 50 years ago while WE overthrew a democratically elected prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh. Thjis was done to secure private oil interests and an authoritarian anit-communist stance. Sound familiar? We already have interfered with their elections in the past. And the Iranians remember and resent it.

Since, by most accounts, the Iranian people like the US people – but not their government, why would we be asked to have our government interfere and give their repressive leadership an excuse that the demonstrators are a US-led conspiracy against Iran? We are not that dumb,are we?

The crown prince of Iran??? This guy is a nazi just like the shaw was before him. Ahmadinejad is rightfully the president of Iran. He has put down a throwover attempt by a bunch of little Eichmans.

Let's all tread cautiously with respect to Mr. Pahlavi. His father, let's not forget, was a ruthless dictator with a brutally repressive secret police (the SAVAK) behind him.

It could well be that the days of Iran's theocracy are numbered. I hope that's the case. But Mr. Pahlavi is approaching the issue not from the perspective of the Iranian citizens whose liberty he claims to champion and support, but from that of the son of a deposed dictator reviled by his own people who hasn't set foot in Iran in thirty years.

I find it highly unlikely that, in the midst of their struggles for genuine freedom, the people of Iran are champing at the bit to replace one form of tyranny with another.

Why is he still referred to as 'Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi'? He has no legitimacy either as a royal leader or as any kind of leader of Iran. It would be more accurate to call him 'the General's son'.

Richard hit the nail squarely:
"Remember Muhamad Chalabi and his cronies? They lied to us and to the Bush administration for their own gains".

The US has to be careful as well not to repeat the fiasco at the end of the first Gulf War, when unknown numbers of Marsh Arabs and other groups were murdered after the US indicated that it would support regime change in Iraq and then did nothing to actually help.

I sincerely hope that Iran can manage something like what happened when the Iron Curtain fell. The armies and police of many countries simply refused to shoot at their own people, and the largest peaceful revolutions in history occurred as the people said 'no more'.

While it would be great to help out everyone in need, let's be realistic. Do people really understand what it would mean to go into supporting another "change of regime"? Imagine if we did this in every country where there is a corrupt election and the people didn't like it?

How many times as a toppled regime been replaced by another one either less stable or just as ruthless?

Realistically, there are so many factors at work, with not just the "democratic manifest destiny" that has so fueled our political agendas.

How close is Iran to being a real nuclear threat?
Would certain actions affect that one way or another?
Is patience needed to allow Obama's respectful stance to gradually help remove the "anti-American meddlers" sentiment that extremists use as fuel?

More questions than answers to make any conclusions here. I hope the people of Iran can work it out themselves, with support from the International community/US when needed, but yet not dominated by the them.

The images of Iranians burning American flags and our leaders in effigy while chanting "Death to America" are all too vivid to this day. America needs to closely monitor the situation however, the obvious display of tyranny and facism exihibited, under the guise of Islam as demonstrated by the recent political events, can only be ended by concerted and methodical planning on the part of the people of Iran.

Who is this joker? Joe the plumber could have given more specifics than this guy. Does he have any ideas or opinions at all?

This "joker" is the former Crown Prince of Iran, and he has a vested interest in the outcome of this struggle even if he's not returned to power. If his answers are careful its because he is a guest of the U.S., additionally he needs to be careful in his words because the regime in Iran could misquote or distort them which could in turn muddy up the waters on the ground. As to his ideas and opinions...I think its a safe bet that he knows whats going on "on the ground" better than almost anyone on the outside.

this guy is an idiot and a liar if anyone has not noticed.

I very much understand that we do not want a 3rd war here. We do have to walk a tight rope. But, surely, there are still steps we can take even now. What are these steps? One, convene an emergency meeting of the UN. Advocate non military steps such as non recognition of the election results. Two, every country (we do not have diplomatic relations with Iran) should refuse to accept the legitimacy of Iran's present government. Three, examine what economic steps can be taken.

If we do this much, it sure beats poking holes in the air.

Obama might as well go ahead and voice support for the opposition protesters.

The situation now is that if he tries to talk to initiate talks in the future with the current Iranian administration, he will be validating that administration.

It looks like the time is passed for any discussions. We should go go ahead and speak out for freedom and democracy.

I support Obama, and wish this had turned out differently, but unfortunately, if did not.

What a joke. The liberal Democrats claimed they "swept" into power in this country because they are the only ones who protect human rights and freedom. And they railed against that terrible George Bush and Dick Cheney for "trampling" on our civil rights and freedoms.

And now that there are millions of people fighting for their civil rights and freedom in Iran, who really have had their rights and freedoms "trampled" on, and are looking to our government for support in their fight, where are all these protectors of civil rights and freedoms in this country? No where to be found or heard.....the silence is deafening! What a disgrace!

typical US propaganda

wont help. all muslims are united in Iran and soon Moussavi will flee

To any of you complaining about The President not doing enough: Our military and other resources are spread a little thin as it is, and before we send even more of our resources out into the world, The President has some work to do at home. I support the Iranian civilians whole-heartedly, but I am even more proud of them for recognizing that something is wrong and doing something about it themselves. I am in full support of what the US stands for and does for other countries, but sometimes when we get involved, there are some mixed feelings. When the civilians do this on their own, it becomes obvious what the civilians want and know they deserve. They get the credit for fixing their own country and it will become a stronger country because they did it, not the US. It is very sad that many people have been injured and killed for their beliefs and ideas but these people are going to make a mark on the history of their country and I think that what The President has said thus far is enough to clearly show our support for the protestors and our disappointment in their government. Keep your head up, Iran!

This is disgusting that CNN would conduct such a kid glove interview with the son of a tyrant. This guy has no right to talk about democracy and freedom.

Maybe CNN could dig up some more criminals to offer their opinions.
Absolute ignorance on the part of CNN. Do us a favour and stop talking.

While nobody should dismiss the loss of any life, less than 20 people have been killed: 7 killed when they tried to storm what was essentially a military compound, and others probably killed by rogue actors within the Basij militia. Clearly, the government has NOT ordered the killing of people.

The Shah killed, in less than one year alone during the Revolution, about 60,000 unarmed protestors and wounded 100,000. That's not counting the many thousands killed, disappeared, and tortured in the decades before.

Clearly, there is an internal crisis within the highest ranks of the Iranian leadership and we will have to wait to see how it will be resolved. But no leader is fundamentally questioning the foundation of the Islamic Republic as of now.

Regardless, the son of the Shah, from his perch in Maryland, has no following or legitimacy with either side of the factions within Iran.

Viva Pahlavi dynasty.

People of Iran love Reza Pahlavi.
He is not responsible for his father's action.

I am behing the people of Iran...Pres Obama, stand up for something, besides more spending and socialization. GHEESH!

i find it ironic that so many of you spout off at the mouth, acting like you have the highest education in international history, when the majority of you -and that is more than 50%, in case you did not know- can't 1) spell or 2) make a complete sentence.

Why not double-check before you post, realize that no rulings or laws come straight from the President. That, it takes the entire group of politicians, collectively, to decide anything.

Better yet, fly to Iran, yourself, and get in the streets with the rest of the protesters, since that is what you do best, spout off at the mouth.

I support free Iran, too, but we have to pick-and-choose our battles in order to win the war. Geeeeez....take a deep breath and think before you speak. You sound ignorant.

Our country should stay out of this matter. We have Iraq and Afganistan to tend to, and not forgetting to mention the potential for war with North Korea. Let us fix our own issues before we try to save the world. I support of President's decision

The 500 lb gorilla is CHINA! CHINA has 99.9% control over Iran's exports. THINK about the outcome for the world should the outcome disrupt China's oil supply. You think gas prices are high now. You ain't seen NOTHING yet!

It will never happen. Iranians are cowards. It worked in the Soviet Union because their men are real men and will risk themselves for what they beleive in. Any society that treats women like they are second class citizens is a society with a less than masculine male population.

NOW it all makes sense!!!

The USA is installing the Shah's son as leader of Iran, just DAYS after Obama admits the US's hand in the 1953 revolution.

The Shah was a murderous THUG.

Why has CNN not covered the US shooting of Iraqi protesters with as much vigor as they gave Neda???

This is not "democracy in the mid-east", is JUST ANOTHER DIRTY US BOUGHT COUP!

There isn't much he can do. Everybody knows there is a difference between what a man stands for and what he would say on a podium as a result of politics. This is a clear case of that. A man can stand in front of a crowd and shout at the top of his longs that he is a woman and support it with some historical data but everybody still knows his gender. I am not concerned about what Obama says now to the Iranian people/world about the uprising, I am more concerned about where he would draw his weapons of wisdom. We all saw that during the campaign. A wise man once said, "There is a lot of wisdom in quietness" This would make the iranian citizens who this magnanimous injustice have been done to see what kind of veil their leaders have cast on their eyes all these centuries. This is the fact that, only a few determine the destiny, life and death and all in all of their people. America staying out of this would make the Iranian govt want to look for somewhere to shift the blame and the people themselves who aren't dumb would reply, " Don't even say this is their fault, YOU ARE THE DEVIL, NOT THEM"

Why do we keep calling this pseudo prince guy anytime something goes on in Iran? We must not legitimize him. Just as we did not legitimize his father by refusing him acces to the US, when he was fleeing the consequences of his misdeeds. I remember 1979 very well and the years just before that when this guy's father had actually caused Iran to fall into the hands of the mullahs, ayatollahs etc. Now of course, if this prince was in the position he would have been in had his father prevailed at the time, he'd be the angel of angels. He would have given up his "ancestral rights", and turned Iran into an example of democracy. I'm suah!

This prince is not his father, so we should not judge him on said father's actions? But then Mr. Prince's claim to anything is his relation to the thug that caused the Mullahs to be squeezing the life out of any hope of normalcy in that country.

The mollahs and co. aren't doing anything this guy's father didn't do.

The hypocrisy in all this is at least bothersome. I don't mind fessing up:
in 1953 we made (one of our biggest) mistake(s) by intervening in that Mossadeg incident, which started the chain of events that led to the Shah's shameful abuse of his people and of his position. That led to the advent of the Mullahs. Who decided the best way to go is to reinvent the middle (read the dark) ages.

Iranian people are, and are staying, the victims of all these thugs no matter what they call themselves, no matter how they legitimize themselves.

I feel more sorry for Iranians now than I did in 79 and before, and that's saying a lot. Thanks to an extra 30 years of being strangled, suffocated and squeezed.

Whether Iranians are starved to death because the shah banoo (I think that's what they call the ex she-shah, the ex-queen, i.e this guy's mother), needs to own and wear the most giantest diamonds ever seen, or whether they're being beat (or shot) to death in the street for wanting to choose their own attire, hair length etc.

Iranians are an ancient people with an ancient civilization. They have so much to give the rest of us (caviar anyone?). I do hope I see the day were they live in the freedom they so deserve.

As to the question this faux prince is dodging: we need to wait till they win. And then make it clear that we are 100% ready to welcome them to the big boys court: that of the countries who fought and prevailed against oppression. Besides being useless, doing anything official now would be patronizing at best, and I agree with Obama's stand: he still needs to deal with Iran regardless of the outcome of these events.

Q: “The White House is worried that coming out too strong in support could do more harm than good. What do you think?”

A: Bunch of BS about how the people are legitimate that doesn’t answer the question.

Q: What do you think the White House should do?

A: Another non-answer.

Who is this joker? Joe the plumber could have given more specifics than this guy. Does he have any ideas or opinions at all?
----------------------
Who is this guy? Just the son of the Iranian Shah, who was put in power by the United States following the 1953 anti-Mossidiqu coup. Jesus you moron, read a history book, or at least go to Wikipedia.

The "non-answer" as you put it, depends on your ability to make a fine distinction in counter-intuitive logic, which obviously is beyond you (maybe Joe the Plumber can understand it lol). Here it is: the White House can do more damage to America's cause by pushing too strongly on the Iranian government. If they appear as too involved, the Iranian government can point to it as an indication that we are orchestrating the protests, eroding the grassroots nature of things. So we need to maintain a BALANCE, voicing our concern without going too far. You do realize that in any instance, you can go TOO FAR in either direction, right? That in and of itself is a fine distinction, and probably beyond you because of your dualistic thought-process. Something either is one thing or the opposite. It has to be that simple for your tiny little brain to comprehend. Unfortunately, reality is not so simple. But keep trying to make it fit to your worldview, instead of the other way around. Good job, GOP.

Why do I even bother? Joe the Plumber, 2012! (I can't believe how stupid some Republicans still are.)

Interesting that Mr. Reza Pahlavi fails to mention how his dad came to power in Iran. I'll refresh his memory, it was because of a U.S. backed coup called Operation Ajax. His father came to power because we assisted in overthrowing Iran's DEMOCRATICALLY elected government in the 50's. He also fails to mention the Islamic revolution came about because of the hatred the country had for his father and his relationship with the U.S.

Obama is wise to keep quiet as our last intervention in Iran resulted in a nationwide backlash. If freedom is to truly exist in Iran it MUST be the result from the Iranian public's demand, not from the U.S. The last thing we want is another Middle Eastern leader handcuffed due to them being perceived as an American puppet.

It made me laugh when The son of a Dictator talked about election and democracy. Does he think for a minute how Brutal a dictator his father was, how many he killed. Shame on this family and his followers.

I hope the Iranian people decide their fate, in the push for a more democratic society and government. This would be a way to keep the Iranian foreign fighters from spilling over into Afghanistan and killing our troops. Did you ever see the Australian cartoon depicting Iran as a manhole cover with "terrorism" written on it, and the cockroaches coming out of it to blanket the middle east? It's a keeper.

Hope Pahlavi dynasty will return to Iran and will save us from all these awkward groups such as, Islamist, Maoist Islamist, moderate Islamists, communists, extreme social Islamist you know... all this cr*p we've been putting up with for the last 30 years.

Wake up Iranians, how long you want to sell yourself and your country to these strange ideologies.

Backing the Pahlavi family has caused trouble enough for the United States, and his opinion should be taken with the proverbial "grain of salt". The last time we chose a side in Iran was so devastating that we have never recovered credibility in the Middle East. The former crown prince knows no more truth about Iran at this moment than do the rest of us.

It's rediculous to put this guy, the son of the ruthless dictator shah of Iran, and allow him to speak in the name of the people and democracy. He must think that people have short memories. I think the Iranian people deserve a lot of good things, but the return of the Shah's son to any sort of power is not one of them. This is a joke. This guy should be so ashamed of the way his father ran that country that he should never speak publicly.

How can anyone support the shah?
The protesters that we see on T.V. are NOT protesting against the "regime"! They are protesting what they perceive to be election fraud. The vast majority of people of Iran are in support of the Shia Islamic system of governance that is in place today. Whoever thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. It is the media that is showing to be a struggle between clerics and the "people"... like in any protests, there are going to be police and others trying to suppress it.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT AMERICA!!!!

If this country got involved, then that would be an excuse for the Iranian Gov. they are just looking for an excuse to not take the protestors seriously.

But the Rightwing Puppy Kickers and the media are just iching to use something, anything as a political football to make themselves look good!

Obama is doing the right thing, by staying out of what I would call a civil matter. I ask this question: how would everyone feel if another country got involved in the 2000 election?

People would feel insulted if another country got involve.

Can anyone say Ahmed Chalbi? Why is CNN the only news organization carrying the PERSONAL OPINIONS and aspirations of the shah's son? Come on research the real facts, we have no evidence that the police are turning sides. We all want the people to succeed but lets not let the Neocons and dissidents inspire false hope.

You'd have to be dumb not to see that intervention is exactly what the God-Man and his minions in Iran are waiting for... it would offer legitimacy to their jacked little election (see 2000, 2004). The president is correct in doing what this country is seemingly incapable of doing... mind your own business...

Every Iranian I have met here in the states or online thru some odd circumstance like a backgammon game on yahoo, has been an intelligent, free thinking, respectful person. The ones I meet online that are over there, are suspicious of the U.S. but that is all, just suspicous. Of all the muslims nations over there, Iran seems to have the most moderate, educated folks. I don't think there is a lot the U.S. can do, but the Iranian people deserve better than the Shah and this current group of power hungery loons.

I agree with "betrayed". Reza Pahlavi may not be his father but maybe he could get some balls and admit that his father's regime was filled with murderers and oppressors, and then give his two cents on freedom and what's he's learned. Irresponsibly using his presence on CNN to give the mullahs a reason to blame the US again for those freedom seekers in the streets of Tehran astonishes me.

The US gov't is no better – having assisted in wiping out democracy in Iran in 1953 to insert puppet Pahlavi who was so removed from his own people, it was no wonder he got overthrown. And now look at the mess that's been created.

The freedom seekers in Iran are more brave than anyone living in North America can even imagine – they are standing up to a very frightening regime – i wish them the best sucess.

I am so interested in his father, the creator of Savak the secrect police who brutalized thousand of Iranians more than 30 years ago, and was fully backed by the U.S., that today no one wants to talk about in the media. Does U.S. the hostage crisis in 1979 come to mind.
The pure hypocrisy of the U.S. is always evident. We want Iranian oil and care squat about its people. This Iranians need to understand.
Not those who've betrayed their people following decadent American customs and culture living in the U.S. They'd like to forget their history.
U.S. military bases surround Iran and are poised to attack Iran. Iranian leaders know this. The U.S. only respect a nation with a nuclear capability, none others. It's why they did not preemptively attack Russia when it invaded Osetia. Georgia, is a country the U.S. backs militarily and financially.
To present the Shah's son is a pathetic move for CNN. To have him even show his face after what his father was know for is a national shame on Iranian history as well as U.S. history and foreign policy judgement.

Shame on CNN for giving this son of a brutal dictator airtime. Maybe its not a great idea right now to be reminding the Iranian public about America's role in bringing this mans father to power.

The majority of Iranians once shanted "Death to America" and similar sentiments and now they want us to bail them out? They need to deal with this on their own and no American blood should be shed in the Middle East again. We should have as little to do with that part of the world as possible. If all of them want to go back and live a thousand years into history, we ought to let them go and see what happens.

at this moment i'm hoping that some how iranian army get involve and of course stand up against the regime gaured and support the people.
from now on i'm going to name my self NEDA .........i heard from neda's fiance that after her death her family were looking for her body for a couple of days , when they recieved her body one of her leg was cut off and also her brain was taken out..............people your self judge the regime and feel the iranian pain.

peace,

I don't know Reza Pahlavi as an individual, but because of his family's historical role in this process, he should refrain from public comment for fear of tainting the authenticity of this movement. Reza-joon, please, do us all a favor...go home, pour yourself a cup of tea and take a nap by the fireplace.

Why Iran is the most educated and modern country in Middle East?
It's because of Shah and his father. They built schools, universities, roads, factories, and so on ........while other Middle East countries were busy with their Islam.

Our female population is the most educated in Middle East.
If we didn't have shah and his father our country would be worse than Afghanistan.
Be honest and put aside your bias that his father did such and such ...You know, he is the best choice for IRAN.

Iran's history in the past 300-years has been dominated by corrupt monarchies and clergies. Reza Pahlavi belongs to that history. Iranians are done with monarchs and "Supreme Leaders". Besides, Shah's father (Reza Shah), Shah himself, and Khomeini are prefect examples of why Iranians will no longer accept having corrupt, incompetent, and puppet-like foreign-based characters insert themselves as their leaders. This is not a suggestion that Reza Pahlavi should be labeled as incompetent or a puppet. Throughout history, sons/daughters and grandsons/granddaughters of corrupt monarchs have shown that their family lineage doesn’t unequivocally predict governing style. The suggestion here is that monarchies and messiah-like regimes will no longer work in Iran. Contrary to the desires of nostalgic monarchist, Reza Pahlavi will never become a monarch in Iran again. When Iran becomes free, sooner than many think, he could run as a presidential candidate. Of course, without any foreign-based cash and media support.

The only way Iranians can defeat the corrupt, incompetent, and criminal mullahs is through a nationwide strike. All government employees, especially oil industry and transportation employees should go on strike. Iranian citizens should stop paying their bills and try to minimize their fuel purchases. A 3-month strike will topple the regime. Gandhi used nationwide strikes and other economic-based tactics to break the British empire's back. These tactics included boycotting British products, refusing to work for British employers, pulling one’s children out of British schools, refusing to supply the British with services, and not paying taxes. Iranians need to replicate these tactics immediately.

Thank you for allowing us to share our opinions. I have two items:
1- As an Iranian-American who is proud to live in the best country in the world, I think it's time to stop telling Obama he should do this and that. Yes, he needs to condemn the brutal actions of the oppresive regime, but Iranians need to start understanding that only they can solve their issues. Stand for what you believe and as folks in New Hampshire say: "Live Free or Die". We must use blood and go through a civil war to cleanse Persia of scum.
2- I saw a note from a Riita who called the Shah a ruthless dictator. I was born and raised in Iran, so I had a chance to experience both the monarchy and this disgusting Islamic way. What you guys see on TV as a typical Middle Eastern country like Iraq full of sand, camels, etc. used to be Iran also. However the Shah brought modern living to Iran to include improvement for human rights and womens' rights. Iran is still the only major muslim country where women have been able to vote and drive and work for SEVERAL decades now.
The Shah was not perfect but considering the times and the traditionalist muslims resistence, that was the best he could do. He is the architect of today's modern Iranian structure, not the mullahs.
Regards

This is just abject stupidity on CNN's part to interview the son of the Shah, a dictator and thug who killed and tortured thousands. Him talking about democracy and freedom really makes a mocery of everything. It is despicable that out of all people qualified to talk about freedom and democracy in Iran, you chose on who's only claim to fame is the brutality during his father's dictatorship in Iran. You are really making a mocary of all the people who are fighting and sacrificing for freedom in Iran right now.

Reza Pahlavi is a true democrat. He is his own man. He realizes non-democratic rule of his father displeased many Iranians. But under his father Iranian had all civil freedom, a good economy and delevloment of infrastructure and industries at massive scale. There were almost zero unemployment. 1 million Afghanis were working due to lack of Iranian labor. Women were given equal rights. Today political freedom is worse that former Shah's, plus 35% unemployment, no personal freedom. Women are second class citizens. Iran an oil producing country imports 50% of its gasoline!, because mullahs don't invest Iranian huge oil income in Iran. they send it to their personal accounts, send it to Hamas and Hezbollah, and or buy radioactive material to build a nuclear bomb. Reza Pahlavi is the best hope for a democratic Iran. If iranians vote for a constitutional monarchy, the King will be not the ruler but a symbol to unite Iranians and safeguard Iranian future secular constitution. If Iranians vote for a secular republic, Reza pahlavi still be an asset for future democratic Iran.

I wish that people who live in Iran could write their comment, because right now their opinion is more important us who live in other countries, then everyone could see how big majority of Iranian want Mr. Reza Pahlavi for Iran, Mr. Pahlavi made it very clear that right now it's about people in Iran wanting to be free and longing for a democracy and nothing else. I also heard from a student in Iran talking on CNN and they are asking for much more support from Mr, Obama so now it’s the time to help Iranian nation who doesn’t have anything in their hands but their own lives to get what’s the most basic right for every individual in the world which is freedom to speak. Please help them.

If you need any evidence that Obama's position is wrong consider who's a fervent backer: Ron Paul. Enough said?

Obama will go down in history as the US Neville Chamberlin of foreign policy. Peace in our time indeed!

To khurram: Are you a basiji living in United State and enjoying the freedom in here that allows you to open your big mouth.

Shame on you that you can freely have access to news and media see what these idiotic supporters of Khamenei and ahmadi nejad doing to your own people and still backing up this psychopath regime.

Christen, you SIMPLY do know history. According to Amnesty International, less than a 1,000 people were killed by Savak. Now try over 500,000 by the Islamic Regime moron!

Live & learn. DO NOT regurgitate the nonsense that was fed to everyone by the current regime. Was the Shah perfect, HARDLY! Yet who is. At the very least he led by love of country. He made mistakes.

Yet how people like you can equate the Shah, to a regime that has had it's hands in one manner or another in every atrocious terrorist massacre since 1978, I will never understand.

For Reza Pahlavi to have any legitimacy among Iranians and the world, he needs to first participate in an open discussion about Iran and explain his views of the situation in Iran during his father's (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) rein. And I’m talking about straightforward discussions about freedom, corruption, and political killings.
Until he does that his words are just as cheap as Khomeini’s promises of free election, freedom of speech, and freedom of political gatherings before he came to Iran.

Its funny to read comments like, "You interviewed the former Shah's son, what credibility does he have, etc."

its funny to hear Americans speak like this....

god forbid your father performs some horrific acts, and although you (as son or daughter) had no personal hand in it, you will be ostracized and berated for the mere blood line connection.....

i guess its the same tactic "they" tried to use with Pres Obama during the US elections, guilty by association....ridiculous

Let's get something clear about the Shah: while he was a dictator, throughout his 37 years in power, he killed less than a third of what the Mullahs killed in their FIRST TWO YEARS. This is not me, this is the Islamic Republic saying that. They Islamic Republic confiscated all the Pahlavi property and tried to compensate the victims of the Pahlavi regime. They came up with a list of only 3164 people who were killed at the hands of the Pahlavi regime from 1962 to 1979 with about 2700 of them killed during the 1978-1979 revolution. Practically all of those who were executed were people who had actively taken up arms against the regime. Compared to that, the Islamic executed more than 10,000 people in its first two years. At one time in 1981, they were killing people at the rate of 300 a day and they were announcing the names on the radio along with their crimes. Most of the executed were called drug dealers (for men) and prostitutes (for women). Shah may have been a dictator but given what the mullahs have done and are doing, he was certainly NOT brutal.

Dreamer, you are obviously smoking computer wires to write such abject idiocy!

Reza Pahlavi was 14 years old when the revolution took place! Are you certain that he killed thousands of people?

The late Shah, by his own admission, confessed with documents as to the actions and killings via the Savak. How can you equate that to this thuggery called a Regime? It is unfortunate that people like you use valuable oxygen.

Please DO NOT procreate!

Both life and liberty are the two topmost unalienable rights on the hierarchy of rights, both unalienable and granted. America, which touts itself as being a bastion of liberty should be promoting liberty both at home and abroad in the boldest possible terms. Unfortunatly, that will not be done. Why? Because both our government and the American people are opting for socialism, which all too often has been followed by totalitarianism. What is the evidence for such a claim? Barack Obama has done more in the last six months to move the U.S. toward socialism than all his predecssors combined and he was elected by the American people. Additionally, even one of his own liberal party members in congress admitted on camera that she wants socialism in America and wants the governemt to nationalize all the companies. For many of us, that is proof enough that the bloodshed, beatings and brutality against those in Iran who want their voices heard foretell what will come to the U.S. in the not so distant future.

I guess the people who are saying "Stay out of Iranian business" haven't ever given anything up for their country other than their taxes. Bottom line that people seem to forget: "...that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator certain unalienable rights..."

The Constitution of the United States is the doctrine that we derive just powers for -OUR- federal government. That we can create for ourselves the laws that are not infringing of the state's rights and states infringing on the rights that are beyond any one group or ideology with the Bill of Rights. Do not ever confuse the Constitution as our banner of encouraging and supporting freedom across the world.

BUT, however, we have one document that expressidly outlines freedom and that it is the right of the people to ensure those freedoms, one that was before even The Confederate States of America (the very first one, in case people seem to forget that it took our country 13 years to actually form the United States of America), the Declaration of Independence. We are undoubtedly the strongest country in the world. We are undoubtedly one of the strongest militarys in the world. We also have one of the laziest, most sorry populations in the world. When people stand up and declare "this is wrong, we want something done" and they go and make sure it happens, that is patriotism. Never confuse patriotism for arrogance. Those that say "We're so much better than you, we already have that stuff, you figure it out cause you're not our country" are not patriots, they are arrogant pr!$&s. They are the ones that burnish the American image abroad. The patriots act. The patriots ensure freedom for all people, regardless of boundaries. Last time I checked, our Declaration of Independence never said "We in these thirteen colonies are given the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". I rather remember it states all men are created equal and equally are deserving of the rights given to all free and independent individuals.

Don't smear someone of a past regime if they are speaking out against injustice. Let their voice be heard. I doubt the people of Iran would let him come back to power. If they do, THAT is their choice, but apparently we should back the people of Iran, and say to hell with what their leaders say. Our leader here in the US is spineless and wants all to love him. Sad to say, but I'd rather have an unpopular leader that always does the right thing than one that is constantly wrong but has a silver tongue.

"So a dictators son wants America to defend freedom in his homeland."

Why not? The US put the Shah in power in the first place.

I wish he would just go away for ever and ever. the were the last dictator. So I for one don't want to see, hear and listen to you anymore. get a job.

When the US and Britain put the Shah in and ousted a democractic president there were facts that US paid and supported the protesters ? Same thing?

Well said Babak,
I also experienced living in Iran before and after Shah.
Today's modern Iran is the result of Pahlavi ruling in Iran.

Sully and others:

Maybe the US should stay out of the situation in Iran. But there is a point when anyone with any morals can no longer stand by and watch. Still, plenty of people will do nothing – cowardice is a significant trait for them.

We should never have supported the dictatorial nations throughout the world during the Cold War. Iran was just one example. But that doesn't mean we should play coward in today's world. We should not just act simply to do something. But there have to be limits.

The crap "we have our own problems at home and should stay out of other people's problems" is a poor excuse for a human to utter. We are all people. How can you stand by and watch atrocities take place? Are you who spew this bile even human?

I am not saying we should do anything in Iran right now or ever. But there are limits. The stupid rhetoric should stop.

And for the brainchild who said we should have been staying out of other people's problems for the last 100 years (Sully), that means we should have let Germany win WW2? Or are you another apoligist and somehow blame the US for that as well? Or maybe you simply do not know any history at all?

According to the Information Clearing House report, the CIA spent 400 million dollars in Iran just a month before the election to create chaos which is occurring right now. Mr. Mousavi got paid to do or say whatever has been ordered by the CIA.

President Obama is in the right track when it comes to Iran. We have been too gung -ho and shooting our mouths off without understanding the political climate of the particular country.

The United States of America is not the world and the world is not the United States of America. I am not saying practice the Monroe Doctrine but I am saying don’t act the cowboy it does not hold water in these present times.

i cant beleive obama is kissing ass a terrorist regime of iran-

SING IT JANIS "Freedom's just another word for NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, Nothing, I mean nothing honey if it ain't Free!"

the Iranian people must truly feel like they have nothing left to lose if they are willing to die for their freedom!

(so is the story across all of time, in all of history! THIS is for the Iranian people to fight for...not us)

Another point of history. Many people believe that CIA removed a democratically elected Mossadegh to install their puppet Shah. That is not the whole story. Believe it or not, Mossadegh was holding on to power ILLEGALLY. According to the Iranian constitution of 1905, the Shah can appoint a person of his choosing as the prime minister when the Parliament is dissolved, pending new elections. In 1953, due to internal strife and agitations by the communists, Mossadegh dissolved the Parliament. The Shah was told by the US to install Gen. Zahedi as the prime minister in order to head off the communists. The Shah, exercising his legal right, appointed Zahedi and dismissed Mossadegh but Mossadegh refused the legal order of the Shah and arrested the officer delivering the order of dismissal. That started the events that led to the August 19, 1953 Coup. The Shah was weak to succumb to the US pressure but it was Mossadegh that started the nation on the road to tyranny.

The Shah of Iran was a progressive ruler who did so many wonderful things for Iran. He opened up the rights of women, made Iran an international player and was respected as a modernizer around the globe. In the end, he had the best intentions for Iran and unlike the mullahs he loved his country.

Additionally, the Shah never sent his military to die for no cause, like Khoemeini and the mullahs did in the Iran-Iraq war.

Khoemeini destroyed Iran and the mullahs today will do everything in their power to keep control. Very different from the Shah, the mullahs will crush any opposition that poses a threat to the Islamic Revolution.

With that said, all kings, queens, presidents, heads of state make mistakes and surely the Shah was no exception. It is my firm belief that the Shah allowed sectors of the Iranian government to become to big and therefore it was difficult to control in the end. As we have seen in the last 8 years, the actual government, head of state may not always know what is going on deep in the intelligence, security force of the country.

Surely the CIA has and will continue to do things that the president will not ever know about, and the same can be said for the Shah and SAVAK. They did many things within their own system and the agency became so big that multiple factions were controlling it.

Did the Shah know everything they were doing? – No

Did Savak let the Shah know "exactly" what they were doing? – I dont believe so.

The Shah made his mistakes, as did Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush and certainly Obama will make his as well.

Lets not take one aspect of a ruler's reign and judge every other aspect on it. The Shah was a man of courage who loved his people, at times he made mistakes, but he was a modernizer who in time will be remembered as a great leader. I just wish he would have worked with Mossadegh in 53, they could have been a powerful team.

President Obama is on the right track when it comes to Iran. We have been too gung -ho and shooting our mouths off without understanding the political climate of the particular country.

The United States of America is not the world and the world is not the United States of America. I am not saying practice the Monroe Doctrine but I am saying don’t act the cowboy it does not hold water.

It is more important to do the right thing. The US should not let our concern for what people/dictators will think/do paralize us. Regardless of what the US does we and everything democracy stands for are still the "enemy" of the hardline extremist muslims. If we have a concience, we will publically support the Iranian's fight for their freedom.

"I really think the middle east needs a new parking lot. Too bad our president is too soft to do anything about it."

Thats right, because us waving our guns around in everyone's face will solve every problem, not create more...

I support the protesters, but the United States does not need to interfere in every other nation's history & affairs.

I know I would not accept others meddling in our internal affairs, so why should they feel any different?

The Republic of Texas stands behind the Iranian people.

The Philippines threw out a dictator of many decades in 1986. Men, women and children on vigil on the streets + a coup de etat + christianity did the trick eventhough the country was broken up into thousands of islands. Go Iran, you can do it!

His strong support for Human Rights aside, his interview is pure fantasy and opportunism. He wants to be greeted back in Iran as what – the next ruler or the son of the guy who's military fired machine guns into protesters? I had relatives (non-Irania) living in Tehran during 1978/79 who remember vividly the way the Shah slaughtered demonstrators. He has no credibility with the people of Iran, domestically or abroad. The very notion he would be given any support by the United States would only further hurt the efforts of the movement in Iran. But if Cheney and gang was still in power they'de probably hoist him up as the next leader – just like they did in Iraq.

Reporters in this country don't do research anymore. This and many other short sighted articles are the proof. All the majors are guilty. It is all about ratings and the facts/history are thrown to the wind in the pursuit.

"As americans we can not stand still and watch inoccent people being beaten and killed"

..unlessss...they reside on the continent of Africa (see Darfur, See Rowanda, See any nation in Africa ripped by civil war).

sorry charlie, but we often stand still and watch innocent people die...we only EVER step in when it suits us, and frankly, stepping in right NOW doesnt suit us.

Once the Iranian people rise up and fight – themselves – only then maybe can we step in, but even then it's dangerous. If the side we support loses – the winner has more ammo against us (Evil United States tried to tear us apart). If the side we support wins – those who despise the victors will always harbor a belief that the victors only wone BECAUSE of us, thusly...in the end it still falls back on US.

and at the end of the day, WHEN things go badly (and they will) WE will be blamed.

This is up to the youth in Iran to fight for their own freedom...no one elses.

The comments of the son of a deposed dictator who used a feared secret police and sadistic torture methods to control his people, at the behest of the US' CIA, don't have credibility regarding our being the "flag bearer of liberty". We in the US are on somewhat shaky ground as well. The Iranians must work this out. Pres. Obama has struck a very supportive tone expressing Americans' distress at seeing the free speech, free expression and fair election rights of Iranian citizens being forcefully suppressed. A multinational approach to engage the Iranian government on a variety of issues might be in order. Mr. Pahlavi deserves to reside in obscurity regarding this and any other issue regarding the governing of Iran.

Didn't the Iranians have a democratically elected government once? And who was it that backed the overthrow of this government to install a dictator? Church Lady says " Could it be (The Great ) Satan!" Yes we the US even in the 1950's were willing to trample the will of the people so our oil companies could make money. Why should Iran (our any other country) trust our motives? Obama should keep his mouth shut and let the Iranian people clean up this mess which we created. If he tries to show support for the protestors it will only hurt their cause.

Sully. No one has said it better and with more vigour than your self. Very Interesting

Give them more guns, more bombs, and more nukes. let's them obliterate themselves from the face of this earth. Lesser mouths to feed.

How does the son of the brutal Shah have any legitimacy on such an issue. His father and supporters have the Iranian people's blood all over their hands.

I'm tired of politicians talking about freedom, liberty, etc. and not backing their public statements and beliefs with a determined stand on the issue at hand . This hot dog diplomacy may be suitable for domestic consumption but we're talking about the interests and dreams of Iranians whose basic rights are being trampled and shown on live TV every day. Our President's tepid response to the violence in Iraq could be interpreted as approval of the current situation.

Yes, This is the Son of the of a ruthless dictator talking about freedom and democracy! But I dont think we should judge him for what his father did! Isn't CIA doing the same thing right now? The only difference is that we don't hear about it! Plz dont get me wrong I m not supporting the prince! And beside, I'm sure the people of Iran would not let him run the country like his father did! I hope a free Iran emerges with minimal bloodshed!
God Bless this brave souls who are risking their lives and fighting for their freedom!

Unfortunately history has shown that any totalitarian regime willing to turn the guns of it's military against it's own citizenry can remain in power almost indefinitely. That said, history has also shown that in order to maintain control the regime must also control the flow of information – not such an easy task in a world dominated by the Internet and Twitter.

An important step for the outside world would be to prohibit the sale of digital switches that allow for deep packet monitoring to any repressive regime. As long as the information flows there is hope for the Iranian people.

I would like to second another person's comment here about Shah's regime in Iran. It's true that he was a dictator and he did imprison pepole, but the current Islamic Regime has done more injustice to its people in ONE YEAR, than the entire regime of the Shah!

I remember the Iran that I used to live in, trust me it was a MUCH more advanced, democratic, modern Iran than it has been for the last
30 years! There was religeous tolarence for other religions such as Christians, which is is NOT the case right now! The same can be said about women rights and human rights in general!

So although the people might not want Reza Pahlavi to go back, he is a very educated, informed and smart man and should be able to express his views. Also just because his dad was a dictator doesn't mean he would be the same. He has been living in the west for many many years and I'm sure appreciates and values democracy as much as any of you.

Havent we learned that you cannot believe exiled leaders? This guy is trying to fuel our involvement by making things up. It would be great if there was an uprising but remember that his father killed and repressed his people as much as the present leadership. The only way to get democracy is by letting the people fight for it. Didnt we learn from Iraq? The Iranian government is already blaming us.

The typical American will not read, instead, everything they know , is what they have heard thru the media... read Shah Pahlavis' bio on wiki sometime, and learn. the Carter administration thought that breaking up the middle east into small secterian sects was the ticket..we started in Iran. I believe it was Warren Bell, who was appointed to the trilateral commision by Carter, who in conjunction with Kissinger and Dr. Bryzenski, smuggled millions of dollars in suitcases to Iran. The Shah's own limo picked up the U.S. representative at the Tehran airport, hid under blankets with the suitcases of money, and delivered the same to the shahs estate. There, the money was used in hiring street protesters and such, to create public chaos, which was directed then against the prime minister, which the shah promptly arrested, which was the plan. We wanted, and suceeded in reinstalling the Ayatolla...the shah went into exile. Everything was done
by the cia. Our problems in the middle east were created by US!!
We need to stop the meddling in other peoples problems and overthrowing governments for our own good.

Contrary to anyone's personal opinion regarding the deposed Shah (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi)...it cannot truthfully be said that under his leadership, Iran enjoyed a period of vast improvements. Reconstructed infastructure, the rights of women, excellence in education...etc Since the Islamic revolution, the poor citizens of Iran have been slingshotted backwards beyond our (US) citizen's comprehension. Throughout this column there are many who called the late Shah a dictator...a thug??? It amazes me how selective and/or how short people's memories really are. The Shah was the US's anchor in the Mid East. At that time The Shah recognized Israel...and speaking of thugs.....Every American citizen from coast to coast...working/living home or abroad lived under the the rule of the closest thing to a dictator I ever wan't to experience! A man who signed more "DEATH WARRANTS" than anyone before him.....that was as governor mind you! The eight years to follow didn't require warrants. Just on a whim! On a whim!!!!!4000plus brave americans lost.

The best thing that could happen in Iran would be another revolution. A secular one with Reza Shah Pahlavi II as an interm leader until a "true" election is held. The young Mr Pahlavi is hope for Iran!!! May God Bless and keep him.

In closure, please let me state that I am an american citizen with German and Dutch ancestry. I feel for all oppressed people world wide!

This guy (the crown prince) is no better than his father was or the current theocratic dictators. They may claim to be different than the other, but in fact are all the same...They want to rule with an iron fist and have no interest in our style of democracy. We are better off, as heartless as it may seem, to stay away and not give these people mired in 13th century ideology any excuse to blame the U.S or other western powers. When the educated masses of Iran will have had enough, they will rise up and revolt the only way they can against their miserable excuse for a government: in a violent and bloody way.

While it's true that in many cases an apple doesn't roll far from the tree, that doesn't hold true in every case. People comparing Pahlavi to his father (who was a dictator, I'm not denying that) is not faIr. Last time I checked, it was standard practice in America to assume innocence until guilt of something was PROVED BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

i give every Iranian that is standing up for what they believe in their due props. its hard to take a side and go public for something you have strong beliefs about, especally if your own government and neighboring citizens are opposing and doing everything in its power to stop you. i want all of the protesters to know that they are not alone in their battle and just because the american government is sitting around twiddling their thumbs, and not doing anything to proect the innocent people who are taking beatings and facing death on a daily basis just to stand up for their rights as humans; that I and a majority of the american youth have your backs, so to speak, for we are here and thousands of miles away. if i could get a ticket to be out there and protest with you just so that your voice can be heard i would. its hard for the youth and those without influence, power or money to express ourselves in a manner of which we will be heard and respected on the matters that effect us and the rest of the world. so i am here on cnn, doing my best to let you know that you are not alone in your fight. what people need to realise is that we the youth will be the ones having to deal with the consequences of our elder's choices and mistakes made now. if the Iranian people feel that the american government and the rest of the western civilization turned our backs on them in a time of need when they asked us for help, then we the youth will suffer when its our turn to lead, for the iranian youth of today who are fighting for their life and rights will remember how we easily turned a blind a to what they went through and a strong american iranian relastionship will never be formed and secured. i was told by a wise man once that, "people will aways remember the ones who helped them in a time of need but will never forget the ones who turned their backs and let them struggle." so i as an american doing my best everyday to be a decent human being offer any service i can possibly give to any iranian, matter of fact to any human alive on this earth that is being oppressed or feels they need help. i hope that anyone reading this takes me as serious as i am right now, and that no one is too scared to ask for help. the choices we make now will come back to haunt us in the future, good or bad, whether it be 50 years from now or 17 months down the line, we will have to live with it. so why not make the best possible choices for everyone now? LdavisIV@tmo.blackberry.net

Henry Lukenge

So the US should stay out of the world's affairs? This is what Sully said:

"Obama is doing exactly what should have been done a century ago STAY OUT OF OTHER COUNTRY BUSINESS"

I realize Sully does not have a strong grasp of the English language. Do you? Do you understand what the past 100 years has covered? Should we be speaking German? Should the Jews have been eradicated? Either you are a troll or you are an idiot. The same goes for Sully.

And if either of you are not American citizens, feel free to return to your homelands – if they will take you back.

The Iranians need to solve this issue themselves if possible. And like another poster said, freedom must be earned. But remember, the US would not have won against England without outside support. There may come a point when the US or other nations must help. Right now is not the time. But I am tired of people who have no concept of history demonizing the US for everything we have ever done.

Oh, and if either Henry or Sully are American citizens, feel free to leave. You won't be missed.

The Axis of Evil is starting to polarize.

North Korea declaring act-of-war if anyone does anything in their waters to their ships. Ready or not, North Korea is ready to move.

Iran will declare a state emergency and clamp down hard and condemn anyone who disagrees, ESPECIALLY the United States.

Take note of what Russia and China are doing or better NOT doing.

Both Iran and North Korea are puppets of their larger masters Russia and China respectively.

The growing anti-american sentiment makes these situations much more dangerous than most americans are willing to admit.

We move against North Korea and China will back them. We move against Iran and Russia will be there to assist Iran.

Of the two, I believe Iran will be the starting point but North Korea won't be much later. China will let North Korea handle Japan and send their 200 million man army toward Tehran.

The United States is the most powerful military force on earth and can easily handle ALL aggressions from any and all aggressors (Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, etc.) BUT the question is, what in biblical terms would that make the United States out to be?

I would prefer there were no wars and death were only something we all naturally succumb to BUT to have peace you truly MUST prepare for war.

We're already at war it just hasn't spread – YET.

People of Iran would like to have Reza Pahlavi as their king that can unit the country. He will bring laughter, music, colors, freedom, security, prosperity and respect to Iranian people.
However, I don't know any other opposition leader being able to do that.

It’s a shame that we, people of Iran cannot find one leader, who is respected by everybody. It’s obvious that Pahlavi won’t come back to power in Iran, but is it correct to criticize Mr. Reza Pahlavi, who is by far the most educated and open-minded person that can be an accepted leader of Iran, like this? His father did lots of mistakes along side he was doing lots of good works in the country, but Shah’s fault is not his.
What is wrong with us, that we accept people like, Rafsanjani, Musavi, Karrubi, Hajjariyan, Khazali, … who have been founders and supporters of brutal Islamic regime, but we cannot accept hearing the voice of an educated prince. I’m not a supporter of Pahlavi’s monarchy. I’m for a free of religion, free of fear Iran, but I wish, Iran can find a well-deserved leader. And it won’t happen except we Iranian could recognize, who is (are) the real enemy, and who is friend.

I'm sure the Iranian protesters welcome the support of the son of a brutal dictator who tortured and murdered tens of thousands of Iranians.

The fact that the country which overthrew Iran's democracy has given safe harbor for the past 30 years to the family of a tyrant, to whose throne his son aspires, could only inspire hope.

By the way, I realize there are tremendous differences between an internal revolt/revolution and a war of independence. What the Iranians are undergoing is much different that the American Revolution. Perhaps it may degrade to civil war. But hopefully, the issues will be resolved less drastically.

There are significant issues with the current government's legitimacy. Across the board, from secular to cleric, there are calls for major change. What the end result will be should reflect the will of the people. But what does the world need to do if the will of the people is supressed by superior firepower? Do you isolationists think we should just let it happen?

A TRUE FACT: Iranians got fool by dreaming on having a better life after the Revolution of 1979 by blaming the Shah. After 30 years they are realizing of their big mistake. Proof of their mistake they made is the presence of young generation screaming for freedom. These young generation is paying for their fathers' mistakes by risking their lifes on the streets of Teheran to fix the big mess the "revolutionaries" did. Old iranians should have a introspection and they shall find that they themselves are at fault and they have themselves given an opportunity to a set of people to rule over them PERIOD. Now, there is no other way to do it, their sons and grandsons should pay the price as they are not satisfied with the government "oops" REGIME which is quite different. They should sit and try to find out what wrongs they had committed while "electing" or giving chance to a set of people to rule over them for 30 years and then they should try to correct those mistakes and must make it sure that next time they shall not PICK UP such wrong persons to rule over them. LASTLY, OBAMA is doing the right thing by not interfiering on their business. And if he does he does not need to do it OPENLY AND LOUD.

I am just an Iranian-American living very comfortable and watching the news in flat screen TVs, JUST CRITIZAZING and of course thinking how to get more money to impress my neighbors.

1. Doesn't every country have voting irregularity, even in the most technologically advanced and civilised nations?
2. In any country when the protesters become destructive burning properties the government has to step in & stop them right or wrong?
3. Interviewing Shah's son will discourage Mousavi from continuing on, because he will think is he fighting for Shah's son to return?
4. Let's be fair, Obama is doing the right thing, his intention is peace of the world, that's why he avoids taking side, otherwise his future efforts of negotiating peace will lose it's value in the world's view.

It clear that some on this forum believe that the return of the shah will herald a new age in Iran: I would love to see their faces when they find out that Iran will continue it current system of governance. Every person we have heard about in the media (A-Nejad, Mosavi, etc.) will tell you about the great things the revolution brought to Iran (and not America...). The economy has stagnated in past few quarters due to the worldwide financial crisis, but they won't tell you that many Iranians got out of poverty in the past decade. They also won't tell you that they and many other Iranian-Americans left Iran because of the revolution, because they had a financial stake in the shah, etc.

Why does CNN’s chronology of events in Iran always start with the overthrow of the Shah, the Islamic Revolution, and hostage taking? Why not mention what led to these events and how the democratically elected PM Mossadegh was overthrown?

During the Shah’s rule, the country’s oil wealth was limited to the elite (family, government contracts, bribes). The Shah sold cheap oil to the West in return for putting him in power, but the people of Iran were never the benefactors of their own country's natural resources. Khomenei used the anti-Shah/anti-US/UK involvement to gain political power. This fueled the Islamic revolution and left a regime that has plagued Iran for 30+ years.

Obama is in a difficult spot and has acted in perfect reason – condemning the brutal actions of the regime while trying not to 'meddle'. Iranians want what we as Americans have, freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hope the international community will put pressure on the Iranian government by imposing tougher sanctions than they already have.

Shah’s regime certainly benefited the upper middle class, which excluded majority of the population. Therefore, the nostalgia of upper middle class Iranians about Reza Pahlavi is understandable. Yet, it's hard to understand why some people need to be led by a "supreme leader"! I believe their blind loyalty to the Pahlavi monarchy will reproduce the negative experiences of Shah’s regime.

Shah’s crimes against Iran are not merely based on how many people were killed during his reign. They were many, albeit not as many as the Mullahs’! His crimes included the destruction of Iranian economy, especially Iran's agriculture through enforcement of the destructive White Revolution, uncontested submission of Iran's oil industry to the West, high rate of illiteracy (78% during Shah's regime and one of the worst in Middle East), land corruption under his family's guidance (especially Ashraf ), extremely centralized power structure, etc. Also, the claims that things were so much better are very subjective, especially considering the state of Iran’s economy in the last decade of Shah’s regime. If we read Iran’s history, we’ll notice that due to extreme mismanagement of the economy, Iran was facing tremendous economical challenges. In 1977, inflation was at 40%. Due to incompetence and corruption, the regime was forced to dramatically increase tax revenues. Tax revenues grew from $2.2B in 1972, to $5.9B in 1977. In fact, in 1975, taxes were raised by 76%! In 1977, Shah’s government raised taxes on private companies by 85% over 1976 rates. In 1978, the government recalled 50% of the wage increases for government employees.

There are many more instances of Pahlavi’s incompetence and corruption. Islamic government is clearly worst, but that does not mean Iran has to reproduce another form of tyrannical and incompetent government. Today, Iran is full of intelligent, dedicated, and caring Iranians, who are more than able to govern Iran. It can be argued that what has happened in Iran in the past 70-years indicates progressive and positive events. Iranians were able to move past the ineffective and corruption-prone monarchies, and now are about to once and for all transition past backward religion and its army of fanatics. The future of Iran can only be attained through democratic republic. The days of kings, queens, and Supreme Leaders should be over.

I appreciate all your of your efforts for your people's rights.

Given the chance, you would be a great leader for our country. For once, people should appreciate your efforts on their behalf and stop blaming your family. We all need to move forward and unite, not dig up the past.

Your eloquence and intelligence is also greatly appreciated.

The Millionaire Inside and Sharon (who changed her name fit in?) – you both raise interesting points that i'm surprised have not raised more commentary in this forum. But Millionaire – you may be a bit too confident in the US being all to handle "ALL" aggressors – isn't the US having trouble in Iraq SIX years later???

[...] Fmr. prince: Security forces join protesters in the streets Former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi tells CNN there are reports some security forces have been joining [...] [...]