The documentary on Parviz Sabeti: a lesson and its historical messages and teachings

The documentary portrait of Parviz Sabeti is a well-crafted, impactful, and lasting piece of work that will surely be analyzed and critiqued by media professionals, the revolutionaries of 1979, and historians.

The nature of a portrait documentary is that it focuses extensively on the central character, often with a positive lens.

My overall impression after watching the five-part series is that Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's greatest mistake was yielding to his opponents and protesters, as well as his decision to leave the country, relinquishing control to others. This serves as the biggest lesson for the Islamic Republic and its officials.

The Islamic Republic has long learned from this experience, and during recent protests, it has operated based on the same lessons but with modern tools, specially assigned individuals, and the management of public perception and fake political opposition. This targeted management and intelligence strategy continues today.

Some attacks (from both the media of the Islamic Republic and opposition groups from the Pahlavi era, who are now among the opponents or dissidents of the Islamic Republic) on the creators of this documentary may be due to what they see as "whitewashing SAVAK." However, I believe that many of the current officials of the Islamic Republic, or the ever-present public who have shifted from supporters to indirect and hidden opposition, will not harshly criticize the Islamic Republic's behavior in dealing with its opponents, after watching Parviz Sabeti's narrative.

In conclusion, any interview or historical documentary that presents even a one-sided perspective holds historical value, as it can later be affirmed or disputed. We should be grateful to the producers of such historical narratives.