Son of Iran’s last shah confident rulers will fall, as Trump holds off on intervening in unrest
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Mr Reza Pahlavi speaking during a Jan 16 news conference in Washington, DC, where he was asked whether US President Donald Trump had given the protesters false hope..
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Reza Pahlavi believes mass protests will topple Iran's Islamic Republic; he urges international action while criticising Trump's lack of intervention.
- Pahlavi called for targeting the Revolutionary Guards' command structure, expelling Iranian diplomats, and restoring internet access in Iran.
- Pahlavi envisions a secular democracy in Iran with improved US and Israeli relations, referencing a "Cyrus Accord" for normalisation.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - The son of Iran’s late shah said on Jan 16 he was confident that mass protests would topple the Islamic republic and urged international action, as US President Donald Trump holds off on intervening in the unrest.
Mr Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile in the Washington area, has presented himself as leader of the opposition as the cleric-run state ruthlessly represses mass protests.
“The Islamic republic will fall – not if, but when,” Mr Pahlavi told a news conference in Washington.
Since the demonstrations erupted in the waning days of 2025 with a rallying cry of solving Iran’s severe economic woes, Mr Pahlavi has pleaded for intervention by the US.
Mr Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it kills protesters, the US would intervene militarily. He also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions, saying “help is on the way”.
But two weeks after he first suggested help, he has not acted. Security forces in the meantime have killed at least 3,428 protesters,
Mr Trump instead has highlighted what he said was an end to the killing of protesters, as the size of demonstrations diminished said “thank you!” to the clerical state.
Mr Pahlavi, seeking to touch a nerve with Mr Trump, called on him not to be like Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, who negotiated with Tehran.
“I believe that President Trump is a man of his word, and ultimately, he will stand with the Iranian people as he has said,” Mr Pahlavi said when asked if Mr Trump had given false hope. “Iranian people are taking decisive actions on the ground. It is now time for the international community to join them fully.”
Gulf Arab monarchies, despite frequent friction with Iran, have urged Mr Trump to show caution
‘Surgical’ strikes
Mr Pahlavi called for the targeting of the command structure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite unit of the Islamic republic, as it is key to “instituting terror at home or terrorism abroad”.
“I’m calling for a surgical strike,” said Mr Pahlavi, who controversially backed Israel’s military campaign on Iran in June.
He also called on all countries to expel diplomats from Iran and to help restore internet access,
Many protesters have chanted the name of Mr Pahlavi, whose pro-Western father fled in 1979 during the Islamic revolution.
Mr Pahlavi said he wants to be a figurehead to lead a transition to a secular democracy, with a popular referendum to choose the next system of government.
Mr Pahlavi, 65, also has plenty of detractors who suspect a desire by his supporters to restore the monarchy and say changes should come from the opposition within Iran.
“I reaffirm my lifelong pledge to lead the movement that will take back our country from the anti-Iranian hostile force that occupies it and kills its children,” he said.
“I will return to Iran.”
Mr Pahlavi promised that a new Iran would have better relations with the Islamic republic’s sworn enemies – the US and Israel – and integrate into the global economy.
He said Iran would quickly normalise relations with Israel in a “Cyrus Accord”, a reference to Cyrus the Great, the celebrated Persian emperor who freed Jews from Babylonian captivity.
“Iran today should have been the next South Korea of the Middle East,” he said. “Today, we have become North Korea.” AFP
