The Shah’s Son Speaks: Reza Pahlavi Declares Khamenei’s Regime is Ending and Offers a Path Forward

Israel-Iran war: As the people of Iran face tough and uncertain times—with their Supreme Leader reportedly hiding in a secret location and the country struggling in chaos due to Israeli military attacks—a well-known and familiar voice has emerged once again. This voice is calling for change and offering hope to the Iranian people, promising them a better and brighter future.

According to NDTV, Reza Pahlavi—who comes from the royal family of Iran and is the son of the former Shah, during whose time Iran was a lively and progressive country with democratic values—spoke to the nation on Tuesday evening.

He said, “The Islamic Republic is falling apart and coming to an end.” He also added a message of hope: “The future is bright, and together we will start a new chapter in our history.”

Even though the monarchy in Iran ended after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Reza Pahlavi is still seen by many as the Crown Prince living in exile. He strongly criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his government, blaming them for the country’s current problems.

Exiled Crown Prince’s Message to the People of Iran

The exiled Crown Prince spoke to the people, saying, “My fellow Iranians, the Islamic Republic is coming to an end and is falling apart. Khamenei has gone into hiding like a scared rat and has lost control of the country. What has started now cannot be stopped.”

He continued, “There is hope ahead, and together, we will overcome this turning point in our nation’s history. In these painful times, my heart goes out to all the innocent people who have suffered and become victims of Khamenei’s dangerous actions and false beliefs.”

Reza Pahlavi blamed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government for the country’s decline. He said, “For many years, I have worked to stop our country from being destroyed by war. The fall of the Islamic Republic also means the end of its 46-year-long battle against the people of Iran. Now, the regime’s system of fear and control is finally breaking down.”

Calling on the people of Iran to come together and stand up against the regime led by Khamenei, Reza Pahlavi said, “What we need now is a united nationwide movement to finally end this dark chapter. This is the moment to rise and take back our country.”

He urged everyone—from cities like Bandar Abbas to Bandar Anzali, Shiraz to Isfahan, Tabriz to Zahedan, Mashhad to Ahvaz, and Shahr-e-Kord to Kermanshah—to join hands and help bring down the regime once and for all.

Reza Pahlavi tried to comfort the people of Iran by saying, “Don’t be afraid of what will happen after the Islamic Republic ends. Iran will not fall into chaos or civil war. We have a clear plan for the country’s future and its progress.”

He explained that they are ready for what comes next—including the first 100 days after Khamenei’s rule ends. They have prepared for the transition period and for setting up a national, democratic government that is created by the people of Iran and serves the people of Iran.

The exiled Crown Prince made an appeal to the military, police, security forces, and government workers—many of whom have recently reached out to him. He said, “Don’t go against the people of Iran just to protect a regime that is already falling and cannot survive. Don’t risk your lives for a system that is falling apart.”

He urged them to join hands with the people instead, saying, “By standing with the people, you can protect yourselves and your future. You have the chance to play a meaningful role in Iran’s change—from the Islamic Republic to a democratic nation—and help build a better future for the country.”

What Netanyahu and Trump Have Said

Reza Pahlavi’s emotional message to the people of Iran, asking for their support to bring down the current regime, came just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that one goal of Israel’s military action against Iran is to push for a change in leadership. He called Iran’s government a “dictatorship” and a “radical Islamist regime”—a view that former U.S. President Donald Trump has also expressed about Ayatollah Khamenei’s rule.

Netanyahu’s main goal is to prevent Iran’s “radical regime” from getting a nuclear weapon. He believes this is a serious threat, especially since Iran has enriched uranium to very high levels—much more than what is needed for peaceful nuclear energy, which is what Khamenei’s government claims it is doing. This raises doubts about Iran’s true intentions.

The U.S., which had been in talks with Iran to create a new nuclear deal, explained that only 3.67% uranium enrichment is needed for peaceful, civilian use—like producing energy. But Iran has already gone far beyond that limit. Its uranium enrichment has reached over 60%, which is just one step away from the 90% level needed to make a nuclear weapon.

Calling this situation “unacceptable,” former U.S. President Donald Trump said in April that “Iran must completely give up the idea of making a nuclear weapon.” He added that the current regime under Khamenei is made up of radical leaders, and they should never be allowed to have such dangerous weapons.

On Friday, June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s military and nuclear sites. This came after Israel claimed that Iran was getting dangerously close to having enough enriched uranium to possibly build a nuclear weapon—something Israel sees as a red line that cannot be crossed.

According to the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, all of Iran’s major nuclear facilities were hit in these attacks and suffered significant damage.

A Short History of the Shah of Iran

Iran’s last king, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, left the country in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution. He passed away in Egypt the following year, in 1980. His son, Reza Pahlavi—who was next in line to the throne when the royal family was removed—now lives in the United States. From there, he promotes the idea of changing Iran’s current system through peaceful protests and wants the people to vote in a national referendum to choose a new form of government.

Many Iranians living abroad, especially those who left during or after the revolution, admire Reza Pahlavi and hope to see the monarchy return. However, it’s unclear how much support he has within Iran itself. A large part of the country’s population is too young to remember what life was like before the revolution, and Iran has changed a lot in the past 46 years since his father’s rule ended.

Some Iranians remember the time before the Islamic Revolution with fondness, thinking of it as a more modern and open era. However, others recall the problems of that period too, including social inequality and political oppression.

Before 1979, Iran had close and friendly relations with both the United States and Israel. But after the revolution, everything changed. The US-supported Shah was removed from power, and Iran became an Islamic Republic led by a Supreme Leader known as the ‘Ayatollah’. Since then, Iran and the United States have been strong opponents and have had a hostile relationship.

How the US and Iran turned from friends to enemies

The Islamic Revolution in Iran started in 1979 as a protest against the rule of the Shah. People from different parts of society joined the movement, but most of the protestors were students.

Before things got out of hand, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left the country. However, the protestors and the new leadership under Ayatollah wanted him to be brought back to Iran to face justice.

In November 1979, a group of radical students took over the US embassy in Tehran, demanding that the Shah be sent back to Iran. They held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. This serious incident led the United States to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran and take strong actions against the country. From that point on, Iran and the US went from being close allies to bitter enemies.

The tension between the two nations became even worse in 2018 when US President Donald Trump pulled out of an international agreement that had temporarily limited Iran’s nuclear program. After withdrawing from the deal, the US brought back heavy sanctions that badly hurt Iran’s economy.

Who is Iran’s Supreme Leader? Ali Khamenei promises to stand firm against Israel

He took over as Iran’s Supreme Leader in 1989, following the country’s first leader.

Almost a week after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a strong statement on Wednesday, saying that the country will “not surrender” as Israel tries to shut down its nuclear programme.

Speaking through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Khamenei declared, “If there is war, we will fight back with war. If they bomb us, we will bomb them. If they strike us, we will strike back. Iran will not give in to any pressure or outside demands.”

His statement came after former President Donald Trump had urged Iran to give up and surrender.

Khamenei has been Iran’s top leader for more than 35 years. After Israel’s unexpected attack, reports suggest he has gone into hiding.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not dismissed the idea of targeting Khamenei directly, as both countries continue to carry out airstrikes against each other almost every day.

Here’s a simple explanation of who Iran’s Supreme Leader is and why he’s important:

When did Khamenei become Iran’s Supreme Leader?

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is now 86 years old, has been leading Iran since 1989. He took over after the death of the country’s first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini had led Iran for 10 years following the removal of the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Although Khomeini was expected to pass on leadership to Hossein-Ali Montazeri, he changed his mind and removed Montazeri. Instead, Khamenei was chosen by the Assembly of Experts—a group responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader—to take over the role after Khomeini’s death.

Before becoming the Supreme Leader, Khamenei had already served as the President of Iran from 1981 to 1989.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., Iran’s Supreme Leader is basically the country’s leader for life, as stated in the Constitution.

The Supreme Leader is officially the head of state and holds a great deal of power because, in Iran’s system, political power is closely tied to religious authority. The role includes deciding the country’s main policies, making sure they are followed, and having full control over the military. The Supreme Leader also appoints top military officials, including the heads of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the national police.

(The author, Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. He can be reached at girishlinganna@gmail.com )

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