Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has renewed his call for decisive international action, expressing confidence that sweeping protests across Iran will ultimately bring down the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a news conference in Washington on Friday, the son of Iran’s last shah said the fall of the current system is inevitable, as unrest continues to simmer despite fierce crackdowns at home.
Living in exile near Washington, Pahlavi has increasingly positioned himself as a unifying voice for the opposition, at a time when Iran’s clerical leadership faces mounting public anger over deepening economic hardship and political repression. Since late 2025, protests driven by frustration over inflation, unemployment, and governance have spread across the country, triggering a harsh response from security forces.
“The Islamic Republic will fall — not if, but when,” Pahlavi declared, underscoring his belief that the movement inside Iran has reached a point of no return.
Pahlavi has repeatedly appealed to the United States and the wider international community to intervene. Former US President Donald Trump had earlier warned Tehran of consequences if protesters were killed and urged Iranians to seize control of state institutions, promising that “help is on the way.” However, weeks later, no direct intervention has followed.
Meanwhile, the human cost has been devastating. Norway-based Iran Human Rights reports that at least 3,428 protesters have been killed, while other estimates suggest the toll could exceed 5,000, or even reach 20,000. Trump has since pointed to what he described as a halt in executions and a recent decline in protest size, thanking Iranian authorities publicly for stopping mass killings.
Addressing concerns that Trump may have raised false hopes, Pahlavi said he still believes the former US president will stand by his words. He urged him not to repeat the approach of past US administrations that pursued dialogue with Tehran.
“The Iranian people are taking decisive action on the ground,” Pahlavi said. “Now it is time for the international community to fully join them.”
While Gulf Arab monarchies — often at odds with Iran — have advised caution due to uncertainties about what might follow, Pahlavi argued that targeted action is necessary. He called for “surgical strikes” against the command structure of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, describing the force as central to repression at home and militancy abroad. He also urged countries to expel Iranian diplomats and assist in restoring internet access, which has been severely restricted during the unrest.
Many protesters inside Iran have reportedly chanted Pahlavi’s name, recalling his pro-Western father who fled the country during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi says he does not seek to rule as a monarch, but rather to serve as a transitional figure leading toward a secular democracy, with the country’s future decided by a popular referendum.
At 65, Pahlavi remains a polarizing figure. Critics fear his movement could pave the way for a return of monarchy and argue that change should emerge from opposition groups within Iran itself. Still, Pahlavi insists his goal is national liberation, not personal power.
“I reaffirm my lifelong pledge to take back our country from the hostile force that occupies it and kills its children,” he said. “I will return to Iran.”
He envisions a future Iran reintegrated into the global economy, with normalized relations with both the United States and Israel. He even proposed a rapid normalization with Israel under what he called a “Cyrus Accord,” referencing the ancient Persian ruler celebrated for freeing Jews from Babylonian captivity.
“Iran should have been the South Korea of the Middle East,” Pahlavi said. “Instead, we have become North Korea.”
