Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Signals Readiness to Return and Confront Regime

As anti-regime protests erupt across Iran, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has declared he is ready to return to his homeland for what he calls the “ultimate battle” not to restore the monarchy, but to lead Iranians toward secular democracy and freedom.

In a powerful interview with Sean Hannity, Pahlavi said, “I’ve trained all my life to serve my nation... I will be there with my compatriots to lead the ultimate battle.” It's the clearest sign yet that the former crown prince is prepared to re-enter the national stage as millions of Iranians defy the brutal Islamic regime in the streets.

This moment marks the most serious challenge to the regime in years:

• Protests have erupted in 27 out of Iran’s 31 provinces, with over 100 cities reporting mass demonstrations.

• At least 35 people including two children have been killed, while over 1,200 have been detained by the regime’s security forces.

• The government has responded with typical authoritarian tactics, including internet blackouts and arrests targeting Iran’s Kurdish minority.

Despite the repression, Pahlavi sees an unprecedented window of opportunity. “The levels of demonstrations are unprecedented in Iran,” he said. “The people are more determined than ever to bring this regime down.”

For decades, Reza Pahlavi has been a vocal critic of Iran’s theocratic rule. The son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, he was exiled during the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has since lived in the U.S. But he has never renounced his commitment to the Iranian people, instead building a coalition to prepare for a post-Islamist future.

Now, he says that future may be closer than ever.

In a recent op-ed, Pahlavi outlined a transition plan, created by over 100 Iranian experts under the “Iran Prosperity Project.” The plan provides sector-by-sector strategies to maintain essential services, stabilize the economy, and restore national confidence — both domestically and internationally.

His vision? A secular democracy built through national referendum and constitutional assembly, not religious dictatorship.

And he’s not alone. President Donald Trump has made it clear: the U.S. stands with the Iranian people. Following his takedown of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, Trump warned Tehran’s regime that killing peaceful protesters would trigger consequences.

Pahlavi praised Trump’s unwavering stance. “For protesters facing prison, torture, or death, knowing they are not alone matters,” he wrote. “We saw proof of that in Venezuela.”

The contrast in leadership is impossible to ignore. While the Biden-Harris administration coddled Iran with appeasement and cash deals, Trump reimposed sanctions, struck down terrorist masterminds like Qassem Soleimani, and drew a clear line: America does not negotiate with tyrants.

And the Iranian people are taking note.

The U.S. State Department’s Farsi-language account shared a video this week showing an Iranian citizen renaming a Tehran street after President Trump a symbolic but powerful act of defiance. “The United States respects the voice of the Iranian people and their aspirations,” the message read.

Pahlavi, meanwhile, has urged Iranian military personnel to defect from the regime and join the people. In a direct call on social media, he warned those still enforcing repression: “You will be identified and punished.”

He’s launched a secure “National Collaboration Platform” to allow defectors to register anonymously and pledge loyalty to the Iranian people, not the ruling clerics.

It’s a bold and dangerous move but one that signals how serious this moment is.

Reza Pahlavi isn’t looking to wear a crown. He’s looking to help his nation bury a tyrannical regime that has spread terrorism, crushed dissent, and enslaved generations of Iranians under religious authoritarianism.

As Iran burns with the hope of change, the world must choose side with freedom, or enable the mullahs one more time.

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