Son of former shah says he is ‘uniquely positioned’ to lead Iran as he predicts end of regime | Iran
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former pro-Western ruler, has predicted the fall of the country’s Islamic regime and claimed he was “uniquely” appointed to head a new government.
The bid to lead a possible new Iran comes after weeks of mass protests that left thousands dead after being brutally suppressed by security forces.
Given that Pahlavi has not been in Iran since his family fled the country at the beginning of the 1979 Islamic revolution, his credentials are certain to be challenged by other opponents of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime. Although his name is mentioned with slogans in some protests, many people question his level of public support.
Calling on the West to help overthrow Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei, Pahlavi said on Friday that the regime was doomed to collapse with or without such help.
“The Iranian people are taking decisive action on the ground, now is the time for the international community to fully join them,” he told reporters at a news conference in Washington.
He said foreign intervention does not require “boots on the ground” but rather “targeted intervention” that can weaken the regime’s repressive apparatus, such as targeting the Revolutionary Guard leadership.
“What they need from the world is determined, targeted support to protect lives, amplify their voices and accelerate the collapse that is already underway,” he said. “But let me be clear, with or without the world’s help, the regime will fall. It will fall quicker, and more lives will be saved if the world turns its words into action.”
Pahlavi said 12,000 protesters were killed in 48 hours during security forces’ bloody crackdown against demonstrations that have gripped the country since December 28. Human rights groups confirmed the lower figures but still estimated the death toll in the thousands.
Donald Trump has promised that “help is on the way” if the regime continues to kill protesters or execute those detained. However, it withdrew after warnings from US allies in the Middle East that military intervention could trigger regional instability. Posting on the Truth Social network on Friday, Trump thanked the regime for allegedly canceling the planned wave of executions.
“I have great respect for the fact that all executions planned to take place yesterday (more than 800) were canceled by the Iranian government. Thank you!” he wrote.
Pahlavi spoke after protesters shouted his name and said “Long live the Shah” in the recent protests; This is an ironic development, given that the monarchical regime of his father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown after months of similar mass demonstrations and complaints about torture and human rights violations.
He avoided giving a clear answer when asked by the Guardian whether he wanted to restore the monarchy, but said he had “a comprehensive plan for an orderly transition that is ready to be implemented immediately”. This would include referendums to establish a new form of government, but refused to rule out the possibility of a monarchical restoration.
“I am in a unique position to ensure a stable transition,” he said. “This is the decision made loud and clear by the public who were exposed to the shootings.”
He claimed that “a large section” of the security forces had already refused to open fire on people and that they were “whispering their loyalty to me”.
He referred to the “bond between me and the Iranian people,” a phrase reminiscent of his father’s rhetoric, saying: “It has been with me since my birth and cannot be broken even in exile.”
