The exiled son of Iran’s last shah has appealed to the international community to support protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government, saying the collapse of the Islamic Republic is inevitable.
Reza Pahlavi, a US-based opposition figure, said the world should take direct action against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard leadership, arguing that doing so would speed up change and reduce further loss of life.
Protests erupted across Iran on 28 December over worsening economic conditions and later evolved into broader calls for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. A human rights group estimates that more than 2,500 protesters have been killed during the unrest.
Iranian authorities have dismissed the demonstrations as foreign-backed riots. However, Pahlavi has gained prominence within Iran’s divided opposition and has repeatedly encouraged citizens to intensify their resistance.
Security forces have responded with lethal force, while the government has imposed near-total internet and communication shutdowns to suppress the movement.
Speaking at a press conference in Washington on Friday, Pahlavi claimed that parts of Iran’s security forces had refused to participate in the crackdown. He also alleged that the government had relied on fighters from foreign militias to control the protests.
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