The son of the last shah of Iran, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, held a press conference in Paris on Monday, calling for regime change in Iran and announcing that he would be forming an opposition front.
Pahlavi condemned the Islamic Republic for its continual oppression of the Iranian people.
He warned the international community against providing the Islamic Republic with a lifeline, saying that only a democratic Iran would stop the development of its nuclear program.
Pahlavi offered his perspective on the core principles he believes the Iranian nation should live by: Territorial integrity, individual liberties, equality of all citizens, and separation of religion and state.
He directly addressed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, “Step down, and if you do, you will receive a fair trial and the due process of the law, which is more than you have ever given any Iranian.”
Turning to the regime’s officials as well, Pahlavi said that they, too, would face justice, adding that the mistakes of other failed transitions would not, however, be repeated.
“This is our Berlin Wall moment,” he said.
Unifying opposition to the regime
Pahlavi then announced that he would be forming a channel for those who are dissatisfied with the current Iranian regime.
The purpose of this channel is to reach out and help expand the growing network of anti-regime activists, he said.
“I am stepping forward to lead this national transition, not out of personal interests, but as a servant of the Iranian people,” Pahlavi said. “I have a clear plan for transition and national renewal.”
“For those patriotic members of our armed forces, the time to join the nation is now,” Pahlavi continued. “If you do, I will make sure that your service to Iran is not forgotten and is celebrated.”
He said that the Iranian people would have a final say in the form of a referendum and that “this summit’s objective will be to agree on a road map for democratic transition and reconstruction.”
Pahlavi has already begun planning for potential economic reconstruction and recovery in the event of the regime's downfall.
“In the coming days, my team of experts will publish the plans for the first 100 days after the collapse of the Islamic Republic, based on this work,” he said.
“To my compatriots: This is our moment. I am with you. Let us build this new Iran together,” Pahlavi concluded.
His statements are not novel and have been part of Pahlavi’s approach to Iran for many decades.
He aligned himself with secular and democratic anti-regime groups despite being an heir to the Iranian throne.
Although he is the crown prince by birth, Pahlavi repeatedly stated that he would not accept the throne unless it were established through a national referendum.