Saeed Ghasseminejad: public and party participation will safeguard democracy in the transition

Saeed Ghasseminejad, director of the Iran Prosperity Project and economic adviser to Prince Reza Pahlavi, spoke on a panel marking the anniversary of the "7 Aban Front" about how democracy and human rights can be guaranteed during the transition after the Islamic Republic. Prince Reza Pahlavi's media office released a short video of his remarks early on Friday, 30 October 2026.

According to Ghasseminejad, two layers protect these principles. The first is the legal guarantees set out in the work of the committee "drafting the regulations of Iran's transitional justice". The second, which he sees as the guarantee that those principles are carried out, is the active presence of the people, political parties and civil institutions during the transition.

Emphasis on consultation and collective wisdom

In another part of his remarks, Ghasseminejad stressed Prince Reza Pahlavi's commitment to consulting experts and political groups. He said the Prince relies on collective wisdom in decisions about the transition and avoids deciding alone.

The remarks come at a time when questions about how decisions are made in Prince Reza Pahlavi's camp, including in the debate over the National Cooperation campaign, are hotly discussed among Iranians. Ghasseminejad previously chaired the committee that selected the members of the transition structure.

The Iran Prosperity Project and the transition plan

With Prince Reza Pahlavi's support, the Iran Prosperity Project has drawn up plans for the economy, energy, water and institutions of Iran after the Islamic Republic. Ghasseminejad is one of the project's directors and a senior fellow at the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI).

On Thursday, 43 Iranian organisations also wrote a letter thanking the Naumann Foundation for awarding its Freedom Prize to the people of Iran and inviting Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Ghasseminejad sees the active presence of the people, parties and civil institutions, alongside transitional justice laws, as the safeguard of democracy in Iran's future.