Reza Pahlavi Vows to Lead Iran Toward Democracy, Calls for US Support

Washington, Jan 2026 : Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday declared his readiness to lead a transition to democracy in Iran, asserting growing support among ordinary citizens as well as members of the country’s security forces. Speaking at a Washington press conference, Pahlavi said that the Iranian people had called on him to take charge and reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to serve the nation.

“The Iranian people have called for me to lead,” he said. “I reaffirm my lifelong pledge by stepping in to lead the movement that will take back our country.” Pahlavi emphasized that his connection with Iranians predates his exile. “The bond between me and the Iranian people is not new. It’s been with me since birth,” he said, adding, “I pledged my life to the service of the Iranian nation.”

Pahlavi claimed that large sections of Iran’s military and security apparatus have already refused orders to suppress civilians and that defections were underway. “Tens of thousands have already signaled their readiness to defect,” he said, citing police, army, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members. He added that each defector was being carefully vetted.

Rejecting fears of chaos, he said his approach aimed to maintain order during the transition. “We’re not talking about disintegration. We’re not talking about a failed state,” he said, noting that security forces would be essential to protect civilians and maintain law and order.

Outlining a post-regime plan, Pahlavi said a transitional government would immediately take charge after the regime’s collapse to oversee basic services, stabilize the country, and organize a democratic process. A nationwide referendum would allow Iranians to choose the future governance system—republic or monarchy—followed by the formation of a constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution, which would then be submitted for public approval. He emphasized that the transitional government’s role would end once a democratically elected administration assumed power.

Pahlavi also called on the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, to take decisive and timely action. He argued that targeted steps from Washington could accelerate the collapse of Iran’s ruling establishment and save lives. “The Iranian people have taken his word as a man of his words,” Pahlavi said, adding that President Trump’s warning to the Iranian leadership about consequences for violence against civilians was “very encouraging and empowering” for protesters inside Iran.

He stressed that he was not advocating full-scale military intervention. “This does not require putting boots on the ground,” he said. “The Iranian people’s boots are already on the ground.” Instead, he urged targeted measures to weaken the regime’s repressive capacity, including actions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard leadership, disruption of their command infrastructure, and worldwide asset freezes. He also called for restoring secure communications within Iran, suggesting the deployment of Starlink and similar tools.

Pahlavi framed international support, especially from the United States, as a matter of global stability rather than interference. “Supporting the Iranian people is not an act of charity, nor is it unwarranted interference,” he said, warning that the current system had exported terror for 47 years.

While acknowledging that the Iranian people ultimately bear the responsibility for their own freedom, he stressed that global backing could shorten the conflict and save lives. “Any fight for freedom doesn’t have a deadline,” he said. “We will fight until we win. It’ll fall sooner, and more lives will be saved if the world turns its words into action.”

Iran has been governed as an Islamic republic since the 1979 revolution, with power concentrated in clerical institutions and the supreme leadership. Opposition movements both inside and outside the country continue to debate pathways for political change, amid decades of international sanctions, diplomatic tensions, and regional unrest.

This press conference marked one of Pahlavi’s clearest calls yet for a coordinated strategy to transition Iran peacefully while ensuring civilian safety, signaling a renewed push by the exiled monarchy figure for international recognition and backing.

Key Points:

• Pahlavi claims growing civilian and security force support for transition.
• Transitional government proposed to stabilize Iran and organize democratic process.
• US urged to take targeted measures against regime’s repressive capacity.
• No call for full-scale military intervention; emphasis on civilian-led change.
• Historic context: Iran governed as an Islamic republic since 1979.

This statement underlines Pahlavi’s commitment to lead a structured, civilian-protected transition while leveraging international support to safeguard lives and accelerate democratic change in Iran.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)