Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi declared that the “Islamic Republic is collapsing” during a press conference.
“Today, it is clearer than ever: The Islamic Republic is collapsing,” Pahlavi said. “Credible reports indicate that Ali Khamenei’s family – and the families of senior regime officials – are making preparations to flee Iran. The regime is on its last legs, in towns and cities across the country. The military is fractured. The people are united. The foundations of this 46-year tyranny are shaking.”
“This is our Berlin Wall moment,” he stated, adding that as long as the regime is in power, “no country and no people are safe: whether on the streets of Washington, Paris, Jerusalem, Riyadh or Tehran.”
“I am here today to submit myself to my compatriots to lead them down this road to peace and a democratic transition,” Pahlavi added. “I do not seek political power, but rather to help our great nation navigate through this critical hour toward stability, freedom, and justice.”
He went on to condemn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for directing the conflict “from the safety of his hidden bunker” and using “people as human shields.”
Addressing Khamenei, Pahlavi declared, “Step down. And if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law. Which is more than you have ever given any Iranian.”
Pahlavi further stated that he was “stepping forward to lead this national transition – not out of personal interest but as a servant of the Iranian people,” explaining that he has a “clear plan for transition and national renewal.”
