Exiled Iranian Crown Prince's Sweden Visit Sparks Controversy; Kurds Decry Move

STOCKHOLM — Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi addressed the Swedish Parliament on the 13th, invited by the Christian Democrats and Sweden Democrats. He warned of Iranian threats and urged Sweden to expel Iranian diplomats. However, the visit sparked backlash. Green Party MP Jacob Risberg called the move 'naive,' fearing it validates Pahlavi as the sole opposition leader. Kurdish journalist Kurdo Baksi wrote that inviting the son of a dictator is like 'rubbing salt in the wounds' of the 12 million Kurds oppressed by the Pahlavi dynasty. Critics also expressed concern that supporting Pahlavi aligns Sweden with hawkish pro-war stances.