Reza Pahlavi Calls for Democratic Transition in Iran Amid Worsening Crisis

This regime is defeated, teetering on the edge of collapse, and must not be allowed to continue,” said Pahlavi.

By DTD- On Jun 23, 2025

Tehran: Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, delivered a powerful statement at a press conference today, calling for the immediate resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the beginning of a peaceful democratic transition in Iran. In his address, Pahlavi declared that the Islamic Republic is on the verge of collapse and offered himself as a leader to help navigate Iran through what he described as a “Berlin Wall moment.”

Speaking to international media and directly addressing the people of Iran in Persian and English, Pahlavi condemned Khamenei and the ruling elite for decades of corruption, economic mismanagement, and human rights abuses. He accused the regime of dragging Iran into a devastating war, using the people as “human shields,” and urged Iran’s military and security forces to break ranks and join the movement for national salvation.

“This regime is defeated, teetering on the edge of collapse, and must not be allowed to continue,” said Pahlavi. “The time has come to end this ruin and begin a new era for Iran. This is a new dawn for Iran’s Lion and Sun.”

Referencing widespread unrest and credible reports of regime officials preparing to flee, Pahlavi stated that Iran’s future depends on a peaceful democratic transition, warning that continued international engagement with the Islamic Republic would only lead to more bloodshed.

“There is only one way to achieve peace: a secular, democratic Iran,” he declared. “I do not seek power, but I will lead this national transition to ensure stability, freedom, and justice for all Iranians.”

Pahlavi announced the creation of a formal, secure communication channel for members of Iran’s military, police, and security forces wishing to defect and support the democratic movement. He also committed to convening a National Unity Summit of opposition figures, civil society actors, and professionals aligned with three guiding principles: territorial integrity, individual liberties and equality, and the separation of religion and state.

As part of a broader vision for post-regime reconstruction, Pahlavi unveiled the Iran Prosperity Project, an economic recovery plan structured in three phases, beginning with emergency stabilization and followed by institutional rebuilding and long-term normalization.

He concluded with a call to the Iranian people and the international community:

“This is our moment. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. I am here to serve my people—not for political gain, but to fulfill my lifelong oath to God and to Iran. Let us build this new Iran together.”

Reza Pahlavi’s remarks signal an intensifying opposition strategy as protests and unrest surge across Iran amid heightened regional conflict and growing fractures within the Islamic Republic’s power structure.