Exiled Prince Pledges Return to Iran

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah who was overthrown in 1979, pledged to return to Iran from exile in the United States, presenting himself as a figure ready to respond to mounting unrest inside the country. 

The 65 year old exiled prince did not specify a date for his return. It also remains unclear whether Iranian authorities would allow him to enter the country or what consequences he could face as a prominent opposition figure who has lived abroad for decades.

The announcement comes as Iran continues to witness widespread protests that erupted in late December, initially driven by a severe economic crisis and rising inflation before quickly evolving into broader demonstrations against the ruling system.

Message

In a video message published on the X platform, Pahlavi said the Iranian people were demanding what he described as a new and trustworthy path forward.

He said the struggle in Iran today was between occupation and liberation, adding that the Iranian people had called on him to lead. He declared that he would return to Iran in response to what he described as a national call.

Pahlavi said Iranians were already taking action on the ground and that the time had come for the international community to join them in support of their demands.

He concluded his message by saying that the Iranian people had risen to reclaim their country and that history would honour those who stood with them.

Background 

Pahlavi was appointed crown prince by his late father and has lived in exile in the United States since the fall of the monarchy more than four decades ago. 

The protests in Iran are believed to have resulted in a large number of deaths, though the true toll remains disputed. Figures compiled by medical teams and published by the British newspaper The Sunday Times estimated that between 16,500 and 18,000 people may have been killed, though the figures cannot be independently verified.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged on Saturday for the first time that thousands had been killed during the unrest.

The US based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it had confirmed 3,308 deaths so far, with a further 4,382 cases still under review.

All figures remain uncertain, as reporting has been hindered by a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities on January 8.