Who is Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince and son of the last Shah, ousted by Khomeini, now seeking a return to power?

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, has renewed his call for regime change in Tehran, asserting that the Islamic Republic is nearing collapse. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi claimed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has “gone into hiding underground” and no longer maintains control over the country.

In 1979, Iran underwent a major political shift. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had been exiled to Turkey for 14 years by Reza’s father. Ayotallah forced the Shah out of power in the Islamic Revolution now may face a similar fate with Reza Shah instigating the Iranian’s to rise up against the current regime.

Describing the moment as “irreversible,” Pahlavi wrote that “the end of the Islamic Republic is the end of its 46-year war against the Iranian nation.” He urged Iranians to “rise” and “reclaim Iran,” signalling what he views as an opportunity for a political transition. His remarks come amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and reports of internal instability in Tehran.


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Pahlavi has been an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic and frequently advocates for a secular, democratic Iran. Earlier this month, he blamed Khamenei for drawing the country into conflict with Israel, describing the regime as “weak and divided.” Addressing Iran’s armed forces, he called on military, police, and security personnel to “break from the regime” and “join the people.”



At the Israeli-American Council summit in September 2024, Pahlavi had reiterated similar sentiments, stating that “Iranians who stand in solidarity with the free world, with the Israelis, are the answer… not this regime.”

The son of Mohammad Reza Shah, who was deposed during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Reza Pahlavi has spent most of his life in exile in the United States. While he does not seek to reinstate the monarchy, he plays a symbolic role within the Iranian diaspora and is viewed by some opposition groups as a potential figure for transitional leadership.

His comments arrive at a time of growing unrest and uncertainty within Iran, with international observers watching closely for further developments.