Prince Reza Pahlavi Sets Four Demands for French Presidential Candidates in Le Figaro
UKFarsi Special Coverage — In an opinion piece published in the newspaper Le Figaro on 23 October 2026, corresponding to 1 Aban 1405, Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on French presidential election candidates to make specific commitments in support of the freedom of the Iranian people. This report examines the key points announced in the official summary from his office, alongside the historical context of the article's introduction and editorial analysis.
Four Demands Addressed to French Candidates
Based on the Persian summary published on the official website of Prince Reza Pahlavi, he has emphasised four core areas: supporting the freedom-seeking struggle of Iranians; condemning the widespread crimes of the Islamic Republic; defending the public's free access to the internet; and protecting Iranians living abroad from regime threats.
In the same summary, he mentions the killing of more than 40,000 Iranians during the Dey protests. This figure is reported here as a statement by Prince Reza Pahlavi and is not an independent tally by UKFarsi.
From the Drakkar Memorial to Contemporary European Security
The article begins by commemorating the 58 French soldiers killed in the 23 October 1983 bombing of the Drakkar headquarters in Beirut. In the accessible introduction of Le Figaro, Prince Reza Pahlavi paid tribute to their families and held the Islamic Republic responsible for the attack. He also referred to the assassination of Prince Shahriar Shafiq in Paris in 1979. The link between violence inside Iran and threats against dissidents abroad forms the backdrop for his demands of French politicians.
A Free Iran in the View of Prince Reza Pahlavi
In the official English introduction to the article, he described a free Iran as both a moral responsibility and a strategic necessity, arguing that a free Iran could weaken terrorist proxy forces, strengthen regional security, and deprive the Kremlin of a key ally. This section represents his political assessment of the consequences of change in Iran.
UKFarsi Analysis: The Significance of Requesting Concrete Commitments
The diplomatic significance of this initiative lies in translating a general appeal for solidarity into several trackable demands. When a political candidate takes a specific stance on internet safety, the security of expatriate Iranians, or the response to repression, journalists and civil society can subsequently measure their performance against that position. The mere publication of an article does not signify the acceptance of these requests or a shift in official French policy.
For Iranians who desire the return of Prince Reza Pahlavi, presenting these demands directly in a French newspaper can provide an opportunity for their aspirations to be heard within the European political space. Reflecting this demand is distinct from attributing a single opinion to all Iranians; gauging the extent of public support requires independent data.
UKFarsi, operating under the editorial identity of the independent Iranian monarchist news agency, covers this dossier from the perspective of the Iranian people's freedom, the right to self-determination, and political accountability. The criterion for news follow-up will be the documented responses of candidates and their specific actions, rather than assuming agreement or fabricating reactions that have not yet been published.
Sources and Limitations of This Report
The original opinion piece by Prince Reza Pahlavi in Le Figaro is registered under his name with a publication time of 23 October at 08:30 on the newspaper's page. The full text is behind a paywall for subscribers. This piece is not a full translation of the article; it is an independent report and analysis based on the newspaper's public introduction and the official Persian and English summaries from his office. The analytical content above belongs to the UKFarsi editorial board.
Further Reading: The Prince Reza Pahlavi Dossier on UKFarsi.