The Royal Visit that changed all the rules

How Reza Pahlavi's visits to Israel and Italy opens the next phase of the revolution

The historic visit of Reza Pahlavi to Israel, Italy and the Vatican broke new ground for the people of Iran in their heroic struggle to overthrow the Islamic Republic. The visit underlined the historic bond between the Iranian and Jewish people, and upset the usual suspects - not least because of the welcome afforded to the Royal Family by the Netanyahu government.

What’s followed is all the more revealing. The visits clarified what everyone knew anyway: that Reza Pahlavi is the only legitimate representative of the nation of Iran and is treated accordingly. His base of support, which is the Iranian majority, is the only relevant political force capable of effecting change in Iran. We know it, it’s time everyone else knows it as well.

The royal tour coincides with an important victory for the people of Iran with the effective collapse of the Georgetown “coalition” and “charter” before it could even take effect. Irreconcilable differences before it was even created was obvious: no unity is possible between the patriotic majority of Iranians and a minority of people without the same sentiments.

Hamed Esmaeilion, already widely criticised, announced his break with the coalition and has since revealed himself to be on the side of the most radical elements: Leftists, ethnic activists and “reformists”.

As for Masih Alinejad, it’s clear that nobody could possibly work with someone who is as self-obsessed and narcissistic as she is. Along with other public activists, it’s clear that the suffering of the Iranian people can be exploited by them for their own fame and fortune.

Furthermore, there was a desperate attempt to sabotage goodwill between Israelis and Iranians by getting Israeli MKs to sign a statement supporting the bogus “South Azerbaijan” cause. Under pressure from Israeli intelligence minister Gila Gamliel, most have retracted the statement. It appears the instigator of this was a rabbi in Azerbaijan, suggesting that there is no way this could be done without approval from the Baku regime.

So what does this all mean?

Iranian people possess a political intelligence far beyond the comprehension of Western political elites. The attempt to dilute the status of Reza Pahlavi, promote alternative leaderships, “coalitions” and collective leadership was doomed to failure. Evidently Israel and Italy know this, otherwise they would not have accorded the treatment befitting of a head of state.

Furthermore, Iranians are cynical about Western intentions because they have seen how many “dissident” figures in non-Western nations turn out to be unworthy even if they are elected to office. They have seen Afghanistan, Iraq and the Arab Spring, and are not going to be fooled again.

Iranians take a dim view of activists who see themselves as an elite, in tune with Western liberal politics but out of touch with the needs and realities of Iran and the Middle East. They are also outraged by how many Iranians and non-Iranians alike see the Iran issue as a business from which they derive profit, delaying the possibility of regime change as a result.

There is no more time to waste. An alliance of patriots can deliver freedom to Iran in the form of a constitutional monarchy in line with the nation’s needs. The work starts today.