Overview
- Speaking at a crowded Washington news conference, Reza Pahlavi said a future democratic Iran would seek close and cooperative relations with India rooted in long-standing cultural and historical ties.
- He framed India as a natural partner for collaboration across population challenges, energy and water security, renewables, technology, and business engagement.
- Pahlavi emphasized that deeper India–Iran engagement would follow political change in Tehran, saying, “Hopefully once we are freed, we can start an entirely new chapter.”
- He asserted he would lead a transition away from Iran’s current system and called for international support to counter what he described as the regime’s repressive capacity.
- Coverage noted that India–Iran relations have been constrained since the 1979 revolution, with recent U.S. sanctions reported to have halted Indian oil imports and complicated projects such as the Chabahar port.