Exiled Iranian Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, has described the on-going US and Israeli military strikes on Iran as a long-promised “humanitarian intervention” aimed at dismantling the Islamic Republic’s repressive machinery, not harming the Iranian nation or its people.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) early Saturday amid reports of explosions in Tehran and other cities, Pahlavi declared that “the aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived.”
He emphasised that the operation targets “the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter, not the country and great nation of Iran.”
Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, stressed that while external support has arrived, “the final victory will still be forged by our hands.”
He told compatriots that “it is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle,” and signaled that “the time to return to the streets is near.”
Addressing Iran’s military, police, and security forces directly, Pahlavi issued a stark appeal: “You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian people—not the Islamic Republic and its leaders.
“Your duty is to defend the people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition.
“Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime.”
In a message to US President, Donald Trump, Pahlavi thanked him for the support and urged “the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots.”
He described the Iranian people as “your natural allies and those of the free world,” who “will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history.”
To Iranians inside the country, Pahlavi advised restraint for the moment: “I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security.
“Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time—which I will announce to you precisely—you can return to the streets for the final action.”
He encouraged followers to monitor his updates via social media, satellite channels, or radio waves if internet and satellite disruptions occur.
Pahlavi added: “We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran. Long live Iran.”
