Iran’s heir to the throne sees light at the end of the tunnel after Israeli strikes against the mullah regime and urges countrymen in exile to move from words to action.
As Israeli warplanes continue pounding targets deep inside Iran, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi sees a historic opportunity for the Iranian people to break free from the ayatollahs’ iron grip. As the eldest son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown by Islamists in 1979, he has fought for a free Iran for over four decades.
In an exclusive interview with Bulletin, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi explains why the regime has never been more vulnerable.
”The momentum for change within Iran is stronger now than it has ever been because the regime has never been this vulnerable,” Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said.
He points to a combination of factors undermining the ayatollahs’ power: economic collapse, widespread dissatisfaction, pervasive corruption and ongoing violations of basic human rights.
Lost aura of invincibility
But it’s the regime’s inability to protect its airspace or its senior commanders during recent Israeli operations that Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi says has definitively eroded its aura of invincibility.
”We can already see this unfolding in recent days as chants of ’death to the dictator’ have echoed in the streets of Tehran,” Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said.
The crown prince’s optimism comes as the Institute for the Study of War reports that the Iranian regime is showing clear signs of concern about internal protests. Authorities implemented a near-total internet blackout on Wednesday and have arrested several people accused of being ”Mossad spies.”
The Iranian people have previously attempted to revolt against the regime. When 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in morality police custody in 2022, mass protests erupted across the country with the slogan ”Woman, Life, Freedom.” But the regime brutally suppressed the protests, leaving hundreds dead.
Diaspora’s role crucial
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi specifically addresses the millions of Iranians living in exile around the world, urging them to move from social media criticism to concrete action.
”The Iranian diaspora’s skills, networks, and resources are Iran’s greatest asset abroad. The diaspora’s active participation, beyond words, can decisively influence the outcome,” Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said.
He calls for compatriots in exile to engage more with policymakers and provide financial and logistical support to their countrymen inside Iran.
”I ask every Iranian in the diaspora to see themselves as an ambassador for a free, democratic Iran, and act accordingly,” Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said.
As regime forces struggle against Israeli attacks that have destroyed half the country’s missile capabilities and hit sensitive targets like the Law Enforcement Command headquarters, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi sees an opportunity that hasn’t existed in decades. The question is whether the Iranian people will succeed in seizing it this time.
