Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, publicly called for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the country’s ruling clerics to resign and “face justice,” as U.S. and Israeli military actions intensify pressure on Iran’s leadership.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris on June 23, Pahlavi, 64, said he was prepared to help guide Iran toward “a peaceful and democratic transition.” He claimed—without offering proof—that senior Iranian leaders, including Khamenei, are preparing to flee the country with their families in the wake of recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Pahlavi was once heir to the Peacock Throne before the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the U.S.-backed monarchy led by his father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Now based in the U.S., he is still referred to as the “Crown Prince of Iran” by many in the Iranian diaspora.
“The military is fractured. The people are united. The foundations of this 46-year tyranny are shaking. This is our Berlin Wall moment,” Pahlavi said. “But like all moments of great change, it comes with great danger.”
He issued a direct appeal to Iran’s Supreme Leader:
“Step down. And if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law.”
He also announced plans to launch a “secure platform” for dissidents and regime opponents to coordinate efforts toward building a “free and democratic Iran.” Khamenei’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
A Controversial Legacy
While Pahlavi retains strong support among some expatriate Iranians who long for a return to monarchy, it’s unclear how much influence he holds inside Iran. The vast majority of Iranians today were born after the 1979 revolution and have no memory of life under the shah’s rule.
Many older Iranians recall either nostalgia for the relative freedoms of that era—or the brutality of SAVAK, the shah’s secret police, who were known for torture and repression. Ironically, Khamenei himself was arrested and tortured under the shah’s regime in the 1960s.
Pahlavi’s comments in Paris, while bold, reflect positions he has publicly expressed for decades. His vision of a secular, democratic Iran remains far from realization, especially given deep political fragmentation within and outside the country.
The Broader Opposition Landscape
Outside Iran, another major opposition group is the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), which initially fought against the shah but later lost out to Islamist factions after the revolution. The MEK has long been controversial: during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), it aligned with Saddam Hussein—something many Iranians have never forgiven.
The MEK, now headquartered in Albania, faces accusations of authoritarian internal practices, including forced celibacy and holding members against their will—claims the group denies, blaming Iranian propaganda. Despite this, the MEK continues to court Western politicians. Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former lawyer, has repeatedly spoken at MEK events.
At a June 20 forum in Paris, MEK leader Maryam Rajavi said:
“Neither the shah nor the mullahs. We stand for a new democratic alternative.”
Fragmented Opposition at Home
Inside Iran, protests have flared up over various issues in recent years—disputed elections in 2009, economic hardship in 2017, and women’s rights in 2022. Ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds and Baluchis, have long protested Tehran’s rule, which many view as discriminatory and oppressive.
Still, amid the current military crisis, even some of the regime’s critics are wary of regime collapse fueled by foreign attacks.
Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist currently imprisoned in Iran, posted a message on June 17 as Israel warned Tehran residents to evacuate:
“Do not destroy my city. End this war.”
International Calls for Regime Change
Since the start of Israel’s air campaign on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly voiced support for regime change. Former U.S. President Donald Trump echoed similar sentiments in a social media post on June 23:
“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that Trump was not advocating for U.S.-led military intervention but was instead encouraging the Iranian people to push for change from within.
What Comes Next?
While external pressure on Iran mounts, the path forward remains deeply uncertain. Reza Pahlavi’s renewed call for change adds to the growing chorus of opposition voices—but whether they can unify or gain traction inside Iran remains to be seen.
The Iranian regime has so far shown no sign of bending, even as its people face mounting hardship and its leadership faces international isolation. And for many inside the country, the choice between war and authoritarian rule offers no easy answers.
