The exiled son of Iran’s last shah (king) called on the world to help protesters overthrow the Iranian government, saying he was convinced that “the Islamic Republic will fall – not if, but when.”
Reza Pahlavi, a US-based opposition leader, called on the world to target the leaders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which he said would “make our task easier and avoid further loss of life.”
More than 2,500 protesters have been killed, according to a human rights group, in demonstrations that began on Dec. 28 over economic concerns and evolved into calls for an end to the rule of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
The Iranian government has called the protests “riots” supported by Iran’s enemies.
ReutersPahlavi has become a prominent figure in Iran’s fragmented opposition and has already urged Iranians to step up their protests.
But protesters faced deadly force from authorities, masked by a near-total shutdown of internet and communications services.
US President Donald Trump has warned the Iranian government against killing protesters, telling demonstrators earlier this week that “help is on the way.”
In an interview with CBS News, the BBC’s US media partner, Trump said the US would take “very strong action” against Iran if it executed protesters.
He later said he had been told “the killings had stopped”, but did not rule out military action against the country.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament warned that if the United States attacked, Israel and American military and maritime centers in the region would become legitimate targets.
The United States and the United Kingdom have reduced troop levels at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, with officials telling CBS News it was a “precautionary measure.”
Speaking at a news conference in Washington on Friday, Pahlavi claimed that sections of Iran’s security apparatus had refused to take part in the crackdown and that Iranian authorities had called in foreign militia fighters to quell the protests.
He urged the world to target Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and command and control infrastructure, calling for a “surgical strike.”
He also called on world powers to apply economic pressure, expel Iranian diplomats, demand the release of all political prisoners and deploy Starlink satellite internet and other secure communications to enable connectivity in Iran.
“With or without the world’s help, the regime will fall,” Pahlavi said. “He will fall sooner and more lives will be saved if the world puts his words into action.”
He also pledged to return to Iran and outlined a plan to create a new constitution in the country.
Asked about the future leadership in Iran, Pahlavi said: “It is up to the Iranian people to decide. »
He said he believed he could lead and that he had the support of the Iranian people: “I’m trying to help them liberate themselves,” he said.
Pahlavi said he supports a governing program based on the principles of Iran’s territorial integrity, separation of religion and state, individual freedoms and the right of the Iranian people to decide what form of democratic government they want.
Pahlavi’s father, the last shah of Iran, was overthrown in an Islamic revolution in 1979 and a devout Shiite Muslim regime took power.
The current wave of protests began after Tehran traders struck against the rising cost of living and the depreciation of the currency.
They quickly spread across the country and turned against Iran’s religious establishment, particularly Khamenei. Slogans chanted by protesters included “Death to the dictator” and “Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overturned this year.
According to the American news agency Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 2,595 protesters have been killed since the unrest began, as well as 17 children, 164 people affiliated with security forces or the government and 21 uninvolved civilians.
It says another 22,104 protesters were arrested.
The Iranian government has imposed an internet shutdown in the country since January 8, and authorities have stepped up their crackdown on protests.
The BBC and most other international news organizations are also unable to report on Iran, making it difficult to obtain and verify information.
