Phalavi: Revolutionary Guards Defecting

June 22, 2009 by Jonathan Movroydis | Filed Under Iran 

The son of the late Shah reports:

Based on anecdotes, reports and conversations he claims to have had with those inside the Iranian establishment, Pahlavi said security forces are beginning to distance themselves from the regime.

“We’re not going to wake up tomorrow and see that everybody from the Revolutionary Guard is now suddenly on the side of the people. It has to start trickling in. The good news is that it has already started,” he said, during an emotional talk at the National Press Building in Washington, D.C.

He cited stories of security forces members who are putting on plain clothes after their shifts and joining the protests in the streets. He said one of the Guard’s “higher echelon members” reportedly said he cannot “morally” stand by the current system.

“Many, many elements within the security forces, within the Revolutionary Guard are showing discontent,” Pahlavi said. “There is an amazing reflection that is happening. … This is a movement that has blown out of proportion.”

But a well placed contact who cannot be identified because of a lack of authorization to speak publicly told FOX News that anecdotal reports of wavering among the security forces are seen as just that — and until concrete evidence appears of members defecting or officers refusing to take their posts, it is difficult to have a high degree of confidence in such claims.

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