Following recent developments in the Middle East and Iran, notably Iran, Chronicle.lu reached out to three Iranian community groups in Luxembourg - PEN Asbl, the Iranian Student Association and Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg - to ask them their opinions on the unfolding conflict in the region and the potential broader regional consequences.
When asked about current feelings in the organisation and amongst Iranian community members in Luxembourg following the recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, PEN Asbl replied: “Members of the PEN Association and a large part of the Iranian community living in Luxembourg, like many Iranians abroad, have complex feelings. On the one hand, they are concerned about the safety of the people of Iran because of the vengeful nature of the Islamic Republic. […] On the other hand, many Iranians see these developments as a sign of the weakening of the power structure of the Islamic Republic and hope that this process can lead to the end of a repressive regime.”
Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg similarly responded that the Iranian community in Luxembourg has been experiencing “a mix of extreme hope, fear, stress and anxiety - all at the same time”. The organisation highlighted the impact of the recent internet and communications blackout in Iran and said: “Access to reliable information has been severely restricted, a clear violation of basic human rights during a time of crisis. Local media coverage has often failed to report events accurately, instead echoing regime propaganda, leaving social media as the only channel for real-time information.”
It added: “At the same time, there is a sense of hope: the prospect of regime change appears closer than ever. That hope, fuelled by the courage of those risking their lives inside Iran, gives our community the resilience and determination to continue our work, both in supporting Iran and in carrying on our lives in diaspora.”
On the killing of senior Iranian figures, notably Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg said the Supreme Leader’s death “marks the end of more than three decades of his authoritarian ruling that came with repression at home and destabilising policies abroad” but emphasised that the “structures and legacy of his rule remain” and “it is the determination and hope of the Iranian people that the repressive murderous Islamic Republic regime is uprooted once and for all”. In its response, PEN Asbl echoed these thoughts and said that “his death represents for many victims of this system the end of a historical period”.
Asked whether the situation represents a significant potential catalyst for change in Iran, PEN Asbl said it and many Iranian political activists in exile believed the structure of the Islamic Republic has entered a phase of collapse and that recent developments may accelerate this process, becoming “a historical turning point that opens the path toward a transition to a new national secular system”. Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg said that the moment highlighted “the growing determination of the Iranian people to shape their own future”, pointing to the repeated demands of “Iranians from all walks of life” over the years for “freedom, dignity and accountable governance” – to which the regime has often responded with repression, it added. “The images emerging sporadically from Iran show the world the people's happiness, resilience and courage, as they continue to call for international support and solidarity in their struggle for freedom and human rights,” the organisation said.
Both organisations expressed concern over the potential broader regional consequences and particularly over potential harm to civilians in Iran. PEN Asbl said it firmly believed that the people of Iran have been the “primary victims of the Islamic Republic”, whose policies over past decades it said have contributed to instability in the Middle East. The organisation warned that any large-scale military conflict could be “disastrous” for ordinary citizens and hoped that political change in Iran can “occur without a long and destructive war”. It added: “The Islamic Republic’s threats of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles to destroy the State of Israel is not the war of the Iranian people and nation. We believe Israel has the right to defend the security of its citizens, something the clerical regime does not do for its own citizens.”
Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg replied that from its perspective, “the Iranian people should not be seen as the adversary in this situation, but as natural allies of the free world who have long struggled for freedom.” It added: “While we remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of escalation, we also believe the long-term security of both Iran and the region ultimately depends on the end of a system that has ruled through repression, exported instability and violence, and denied the Iranian people their fundamental rights.”
Looking ahead to any interim or transitional Iranian government which may be put in place, PEN Asbl stressed: “The future Iran must be secular, meaning that religion must be separated from government. It must be based on democracy and free elections. It must guarantee human rights, women’s rights and the rights of minorities. It must also preserve the territorial integrity and national unity of Iran. It must allow the Iranian people to decide the form of their political system through a free referendum. This is precisely the framework around which many opposition forces are currently discussing.”
Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg noted some recent protests in Iran have included chants referencing exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son Iran’s last monarch, calling for “a transition grounded in democracy and human rights” and described him as a “trusted figure” in that potential process. The organisation described him as a ”trusted figure” in that potential process, saying he has advocated “said: “a vision for transition in which the Iranian people themselves determine their future, emphasising democratic governance, constitutional reform and a transitional period prepared to establish a national government by the people and for the people.” It added that he has “repeatedly called for unity and a legal process that avoids chaos.”
Regarding Luxembourg’s decision to focus on diplomatic efforts and the EU currently rule out any military involvement, Iranian Diaspora Luxembourg stressed that “while diplomacy is normally the preferred path for resolving conflicts, it presupposes engagement with a legitimate and accountable government”. It added: “Our organisation believes that any international strategy should prioritise supporting the Iranian people, protecting civilians and rejecting the regime’s legitimacy, rather than granting it a platform that could normalise or prolong its oppressive and terror-sponsoring policies.” The organisation called on the Luxembourg government “to engage directly with Prince Reza Pahlavi to discuss, on behalf of the people of Iran, a pathway for a peaceful and democratic transition in Iran.”
PEN Asbl mirrored these thoughts and said: “Diplomacy is always an important option to prevent the expansion of war. However, not in the face of a government [in Iran] that does not show mercy even to its own people and that shamelessly threatens all its neighbours.” It added that the European Union “ play an important role in a peaceful transition to democracy by supporting Iranian civil society and by recognising the leadership role of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.”
In response to the questions submitted by Chronicle.lu, the Iranian Student Association advised: “As a student association representing members with varied backgrounds and viewpoints, we are not in a position to provide a single, unified response to these complex and sensitive matters. The diversity of opinions within our community makes it impossible for us to agree on a simple or collective answer on behalf of all members.”
