Tyranny in Iran

In an age of self-determination, pretenders to regality evoke all the enthusiasm of old fish in old papers. Reza Pahlavi, son of the former shah, is no exception.

Young Reza has made the astounding, undocumented and unsupportable assertion that the present government of Iran has “a record of brutality and repression that is unprecedented in Iran’s 2,500-year history.” His claim grossly distorts the truth. Western specialists on the Middle East generally agree that:

-- Elections in Iran this spring were free and open. An overwhelming majority of moderates swept to power in the Majlis, or parliament. Moreover, the press also is free and open.

-- Several recent overtures reflect the Iranian leadership’s moderation and desire for cooperation with the West. Iran played an important role in gaining the release of hostages held in Lebanon. Iran cooperated with the Western coalition during the Gulf War. Some 130 Iraqi warplanes flown to Iran were grounded.

-- Recent demonstrations in Iranian cities reflect an economy that has been slow to recover from the devastation of an eight-year war with Iraq. Every day it is becoming more and more clear how much the U.S. cooperated with Iraq to defeat Iran in that conflict. Instability of Iran’s neighbors triggered a flood of millions of refugees to Iran, which has further strained the nation’s economy. Even so Iran’s economy is recovering. Western investors, even from the U.S., are returning.

The hard-pressed people of Iran do not want or need lectures on democracy from the son of the shah.

BIJAN SEPASY

Washington