Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, has welcomed the United States and Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian military targets, describing the action as a historic turning point and urging Iranians to prepare for what he called the “final battle”.
The strikes, announced by US President Donald Trump, targeted missile and military infrastructure in several Iranian cities, including Tehran. Trump stated that Washington’s objective was to eliminate “imminent threats”, declaring that US forces would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground”.
In a message posted on X on Saturday in Arabic and later translated into English, Pahlavi wrote: “Moments of destiny lie ahead of us.” He said the assistance promised by the US President to the Iranian people had now arrived.
“This is a humanitarian intervention,” Pahlavi said, adding that the target was “the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter — not the country and great nation of Iran.”
Despite welcoming the strikes, the exiled crown prince stressed that responsibility for political change ultimately rests with the Iranian people. “Even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands,” he wrote. “It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near.”
Pahlavi also addressed members of Iran’s armed forces and security services, reminding them of their oath. “You have sworn to protect Iran and the Iranian people — not the Islamic Republic and its leaders,” he said. “Your duty is to defend the
people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime.”He urged security personnel to side with the public and support what he described as a stable and secure transition. “Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime,” he warned, referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a direct message to President Trump, Pahlavi acknowledged what he described as US support during a critical period in Iran’s history. He appealed for caution to protect civilians. “I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots,” he wrote. “The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support.”
Although he signalled that street mobilisation would eventually resume, Pahlavi advised supporters to remain indoors for now. “In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran,” he said. “I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security.”
He encouraged followers to stay connected through social and satellite media, adding that he would use radio communication if internet services were disrupted.
“We are very close to final victory,” Pahlavi concluded. “I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran. Long live Iran.”
Born in 1960, Pahlavi is the eldest son of Iran’s last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and Empress Farah Diba. Living in exile in the United States, he remains one of the most prominent opponents of Iran’s Islamic Republic.
