In a bold move, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, has appealed to the international community to assist protesters in overthrowing the Iranian government. Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Pahlavi expressed confidence that “the Islamic Republic will fall – not if, but when.”
Pahlavi, a prominent figure in Iran’s fragmented opposition, urged the world to target the leadership of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which he claims would “facilitate our task and prevent more loss of life.” This comes as the ongoing protests, which began over economic issues and have evolved into calls for the end of Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini Khamenei’s rule, have resulted in the deaths of over 2,600 protesters, according to a human rights group.
The Iranian government has dismissed the demonstrations as “riots” backed by the country’s enemies. However, Pahlavi claims that sections of Iran’s security apparatus have refused to participate in the crackdown, and that authorities have resorted to bringing in foreign militia fighters to quell the protests.
In his appeal, Pahlavi called for a “surgical strike” against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and its command and control infrastructure. He also urged global powers to apply economic pressure, expel Iranian diplomats, demand the release of all political prisoners, and provide secure internet connectivity through services like Starlink to allow protesters to communicate.
“The Iranian people are taking decisive action on the ground. It is now time for the international community to join them fully,” Pahlavi said. “With or without the world’s help, the regime will fall. It will fall sooner and more lives will be saved if the world turns its swords into action.”
Pahlavi, who has previously urged Iranians to escalate their protests, declined to discuss reports of discussions with senior US officials. However, he expressed belief that President Trump “is a man of his word and, ultimately, he will stand with the Iranian people.”
The exiled prince also vowed to return to Iran and laid out a plan for creating a new constitution in the country, stating that “it’s for the Iranian people to decide” on future leadership. His vision includes principles of territorial integrity, separation of religion and state, individual liberties, and the right of Iranians to choose their democratic government.
As the protests in Iran continue to unfold, the international community will be closely watching to see if Pahlavi’s call for global support to topple the Iranian government gains traction.
