Shah’s son confident Iran rulers to fall as Trump holds off
Living in exile in the Washington area, Reza Pahlavi presented himself as the leader of the opposition as the clergy-run state brutally suppressed mass protests.
At a press conference in Washington, Pahlavi said, “The Islamic republic will fall; not if, but when.”
Pahlavi has demanded US intervention since demonstrations broke out in late December calling for solutions to Iran’s dire economic woes.
Trump has repeatedly warned Iran that the United States would intervene militarily if it kills protesters. He also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions, saying “help is on the way.”
But two weeks after the initial offer of help he failed to act. Meanwhile, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group, security forces killed at least 3,428 protesters; other estimates place the death toll at more than 5,000 or possibly as high as 20,000.
Instead, Trump emphasized that the killing of protesters has stopped because the size of the demonstrations has decreased in recent days. On Friday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iran had canceled the execution of hundreds of protesters and told the clerics: “Thank you!”
Pahlavi also posted on social media on Friday, taking to X and Instagram to call on Iranians across the country to “raise your voice in anger and protest with our national slogans” at 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Pahlavi, who wanted to mend fences with Trump, called on Trump not to be like his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, who negotiated with Tehran.
When asked if Trump was giving false hope, Pahlavi said, “I believe that President Trump is a man of his word and that ultimately he will stand by the Iranian people as he said.”
“The Iranian people are taking decisive action on the ground. It is now time for the international community to fully join them.”
Gulf Arab monarchies have urged Trump to exercise caution despite frequent run-ins with Iran.
‘Surgical’ attacks
Pahlavi called for targeting the elite Revolutionary Guard’s command structure because it is key to “terrorism at home, terrorism abroad.”
“I call for a surgical strike,” said Pahlavi, who controversially supported Israel’s military action against Iran in June.
He also called on all countries to expel diplomats from Iran and help restore severely blocked internet access.
Many protesters chanted the name of Pahlavi, whose pro-Western father fled the Islamic revolution in 1979.
While the last Shah of Iran presented the world with a dazzling image of the oil-rich nation replete with caviar, sparkling jewels and a jet-setting lifestyle, domestic repression and the brutality of a secret police force, as well as a lack of economic mobility, opened the door to political struggle.
Asked about the pressure exerted by his father, Pahlavi told reporters: “I let historians write history. I am here to make history.”
Pahlavi, 65, said he wanted to be a figure who would lead the transition to secular democracy, with a popular vote to choose the next system of government.
He also has many opponents who are suspicious of his supporters’ desire to restore the monarchy and say changes should come from the opposition in Iran.
“I reaffirm my lifelong promise to lead the movement to take back our country from the hostile anti-Iranian force that invaded it and killed its children,” Pahlavi said.
“I will return to Iran”
Pahlavi promised that a new Iran would establish better relations with the leadership’s arch-enemies, the United States and Israel, and integrate into the global economy.
Referring to Cyrus the Great, the famous Persian emperor who freed Jews from Babylonian captivity, he said Iran would quickly normalize relations with Israel through a “Kyrus Agreement.”
“Iran today should have been the next South Korea of the Middle East,” he said. “Today we became North Korea.”
