The following information was provided during a 25 September 1997 telephone interview with the assistant editor of the Encyclopedia Iranica at the Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University, New York.

The source stated that the monarchists, including the Guardians of Eternal Iran, are no longer active in Iran today. Monarchist groups are established in Europe and North America. The monarchist or royalist groups are in serious decline due to their infighting and lack of unity. Their main current activities in Europe for example are to organize small Iranian social events.

During a 25 September 1997 telephone interview, a journalist at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Persian Service in London, England, stated that there are no more monarchist activities in Iran today. The monarchist group called the Guardians of Eternal Iran does not exist in Iran. The vast majority of monarchist activists left Iran in 1978-1979 and the rest before 1982. Monarchists are only present in Europe and North America where they publish newsletters or newspapers. These groups are very small and are composed of former Iranian army officers and the SAVAK, the Shah's secret police.

This information was corroborated by three sources during 25 September 1997 telephone interviews with a French journalist who was posted in Iran between 1992 and 1996, a journalist who covers Iran for the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) in London, England, and a specialist on Iran in England.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Assistant editor, Encyclopedia Iranica, Columbia University, New York, NY. 25 September 1997. Telephone interview.

French journalist posted in Iran between 1992 and 1996, Paris, France. 25 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Journalist for the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), London, England. 25 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Journalist with the BBC Persian Service, London, England. 25 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Specialist on Iran, England. 25 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Three oral sources did not have information on this subject.

Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).