Prince Reza Pahlavi and Ethnic Leaders Meet in Paris to Bridge Iranian Opposition Divides

Critically, the meeting also addressed the "secular-democratic" nature of the future state. There was a consensus that religion should be a private matter and that the state should remain neutral toward all faiths and ethnicities. This shared vision of a secular Iran is the glue that holds these diverse groups together. For the ethnic minorities, a secular state offers protection against the religious justifications often used to suppress their specific cultural practices. For Pahlavi, it reinforces his commitment to a modern, Western-aligned governance model that prioritizes human rights and the rule of law over ideological purity.