Tehran, Iran – Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, called on the international community Friday to intensify political and economic pressure on the Iranian government to support the protesters. His remarks came as the protests have subsided following a bloody crackdown.
Pahlavi held a press conference in Washington, D.C., where he asserted that large segments of the Iranian military and security forces secretly support him. He also stated that he is in a unique position to ensure a stable transition of power should the regime change. However, he acknowledged the difficulty in assessing the extent of his popular support within Iran due to media restrictions and internet censorship.
Expulsion of Iranian diplomats
Pahlavi said that foreign countries should target the leadership structure of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and freeze the assets of religious officials.
He also called for the expulsion of Iranian government diplomats from world capitals.
In addition, he called for support for alternative communication networks to circumvent the internet blackout, such as the deployment of Starlink systems.
And he added that the Iranian people are leading the demonstrations daily. He stated that international support does not require sending foreign troops.
He concluded by emphasizing that the success of overthrowing the clerical regime depends on the people themselves.
The press conference featured video footage showing injuries inflicted by Iranian security forces and scenes of protesters chanting anti-regime slogans.
These included chants of “Long live the Shah,” along with calls for the downfall of the Islamic Republic.
Major challenges
Despite his apparent support, the Iranian opposition faces significant challenges
due to its fragmentation into various groups and competing ideological factions.
Organization within the country is also limited.
Pahlavi emphasized the sensitive timing of this move. He also indicated that he had held talks with US officials, without disclosing details.
He expressed confidence that the US president, who had previously threatened intervention
on behalf of the protesters, would support the Iranian people in due course.
Reza Pahlavi, 65, has lived in the United States since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He continues to work from abroad to support the demands of the opposition inside Iran.
