History has repeatedly shown that extremist ideologies, even when they appear to be in conflict with one another, may converge in their efforts to destroy a political or social order. Modern Iranian history is one of the most significant examples of this reality, an experience that deserves renewed attention today amid the rise of extremism and security concerns across Europe.
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Aryamehr, warned decades ago of what he called the ‘unholy alliance of the Red and Black Reaction’: the alignment of Marxist forces and revolutionary Islamist movements which, despite their apparent ideological differences, came together in opposition to Iran’s national and popular system of government at the time. The Shah believed that this alignment could lead the country towards a devastating future, a warning whose accuracy has been demonstrated to the world over time.
In his interview with Newsweek on November 3, 1977, the Shah addressed the connection between religious extremists and communist revolutionaries. He spoke of a phenomenon he referred to as ‘Islamic Marxism’. A few months later, in an interview with German journalists on April 24, 1978, he again spoke of the unholy alliance of the Black Reaction and the Red Revolution, warning that these forces, despite their different motivations, could align against Iran’s path of progress.
The 1979 uprising, and the destruction and killing of the Iranian people that followed, opened a tragic chapter in Iran’s history. The political alliances and cooperation of that period were more complex than to allow all participating groups to be treated as one, but the reality remains that many ostensibly secular, leftist and religious forces united in opposition to the national Pahlavi government. Following the revolution, the Islamic Republic seized power from the leftist groups and the Mojahedin. A significant number of the forces that had participated in the revolution were later subjected to political repression and elimination.
Now, decades later, Reza Shah II, the exiled Shah of the Iranian nation, is once again drawing attention to this historical experience.
In his speech at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington in July 2024, he invoked the concept of the ‘unholy alliance of the Red and Black’ in the context of Iran’s experience. The central message of this comparison is that when forces with different objectives unite on the basis of a common opposition to a political system, without considering the consequences for the future, they may produce outcomes that none of the original partners can control.
This warning is equally relevant to Europe. European countries face genuine security challenges, including terrorist threats, violent extremism and the activities of networks linked to foreign governments. However, effectively confronting these threats requires accurately identifying those responsible, enforcing the law, strengthening intelligence cooperation and protecting civil liberties, rather than generalising accusations against entire religious or political communities.
In his remarks directed at European audiences, Reza Shah II has also emphasised the consequences of appeasement towards the terrorist regime of the Islamic Republic and the need to address European security. In this context, supporting the Iranian people is not merely a matter of foreign policy or humanitarian solidarity. It can also form part of a broader strategy to counter transnational repression, security threats and state-sponsored support for armed groups.
At the same time, a distinction must be made between political warnings and proven claims. It cannot be stated with certainty that Europe will inevitably face more terrorist attacks if the monarchy is not restored in Iran. Nor would the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to Iran, in itself, guarantee the end of terrorism in Europe. Such an outcome would depend on political developments in Iran, the capabilities of security institutions, international cooperation and numerous other factors.
Nevertheless, one clear political message remains: Europe must not abandon the Iranian people in their struggle for a free future while expecting the consequences of the Iranian crisis to remain confined to the Middle East.
For decades, the Iranian people have paid a heavy price in their struggle against the occupying Islamic Republic. Political repression, human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, threats and the killing of dissidents abroad, as well as the massacre eight months ago in which more than 4,000 people were killed in just two days and nights, are matters that cannot be ignored. Supporting the rights of the Iranian nation, defending its right to self-determination and confronting the Iranian government’s unlawful activities abroad must be placed on the agenda of European governments.
From this perspective, support for Reza Shah II and his political programme for transitioning away from the Islamic Republic regime represents, in the view of the Iranian nation, a path towards strengthening a national and secular political alternative. Its supporters believe that his return to Iran could pave the way for rebuilding national institutions, restoring the rule of law and returning Iran to the international community. The achievement of these objectives, however, depends on the will of the Iranian people, a credible political process and guarantees of the rights of all citizens.
Europe today faces a political and moral choice: will it stand alongside a people fighting for freedom and self-determination, or will it continue pursuing a policy that, in the view of opponents of the Islamic Republic, gives the Tehran regime greater opportunities to continue its repression and expand its influence, potentially leading Europe towards a fate similar to Iran’s in 1979?
The warnings of history must be taken seriously. Silence in the face of repression and transnational threats is no substitute for an effective security strategy. Supporting the Iranian people, applying targeted pressure on the structures of repression, and cooperating with pro-democracy forces can form part of Europe’s response to this challenge.
Iran’s free future must be determined by the Iranian people. But Europe must also understand that indifference in the face of repression and extremism is not a sustainable strategy for protecting its own security and democratic values.
By Leila Naseri: Author | Composer | Social Cultural Analyst
The post The warning of history from the Iranian nation to Europe appeared first on The Spectator Australia.
