Shapour Bastansir, composer who worked with the National Council of Resistance, backs Prince Reza Pahlavi

Shapour Bastansir, an Iranian composer and artist in exile, has distanced himself from the "National Council of Resistance of Iran", the political umbrella of the MEK (People's Mojahedin), after years of activity and cooperation with it, and now supports Prince Reza Pahlavi and his approach to Iran's future. He spoke about this change of position on Sunday, 25 October 2026, in an interview with Kayhan London.

In the interview, Bastansir talked about his artistic path, his years in exile, the reasons for leaving the National Council of Resistance, his view of Iran's future and the role of art in the struggle for freedom. The departure of an artist from an artistic circle that served this organisation's propaganda for years, and his joining the ranks of the Prince's supporters, is another sign of a shift of forces within the opposition to the Islamic Republic in favour of Prince Reza Pahlavi's leadership.

The National Council of Resistance and the MEK's record

The National Council of Resistance was formed in Paris in 1981 on the initiative of Massoud Rajavi and in practice became the political showcase of the MEK. During the Iran–Iraq war the organisation moved its headquarters to Iraq and, with Saddam Hussein's support, fought against Iran, a record many Iranians have never forgiven. The organisation's closed, cult-like structure has also been described many times in recent years by people who left it.

Growing support for Prince Reza Pahlavi

This change of position comes as support for Prince Reza Pahlavi is growing inside and outside Iran. On Saturday, 171 activists and political prisoners inside the country declared their support for Prince Reza Pahlavi's leadership in a statement, and activists inside Iran, in a message to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, called him the voice of the people of Iran. DIAR has also examined, in an earlier analysis, the alignment of some groups with the MEK's line.

After years of cooperation with the National Council of Resistance, Shapour Bastansir has joined the ranks of Prince Reza Pahlavi's supporters.