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In an interview with news agency AFP, Pahlavi told Western nations not to “throw a lifeline” to Tehran’s rulers.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah. (AFP photo)
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, on Monday warned the West against supporting the current Iranian leadership under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the “end of the regime is near.”
Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Pahlavi urged Western nations to recognise that the collapse of Iran’s current rulers is necessary for lasting peace and stability in the region.
“Now is the moment to stand with the Iranian people. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Do not throw this regime a lifeline. The destruction of the regime’s nuclear facilities alone will not deliver peace,” said Pahlavi, the last heir to the Iranian monarchy.
Pahlavi has lived in exile for nearly 40 years, following the overthrow of his father, the US-backed shah, during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Without providing evidence, Pahlavi, who is based in Washington, claimed the ruling system in Iran is collapsing. He said Supreme Leader Khamenei, his family, and other senior officials are preparing to flee the country.
“This is our Berlin Wall moment. But like all moments of great change, it comes fraught with danger,” he added, referring to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which marked the end of the Soviet-led Communist bloc.
When asked about Western leaders’ hesitations over the possible fallout of the regime’s collapse, Pahlavi said, “It’s not that they need to advocate for regime change. It is that they simply have to recognise that regime change is the only ultimate solution.”
Asked if he wished to lead a future transition or become a new shah, Pahlavi replied that he was not seeking political power. Instead, he envisioned a transition based on Iran’s territorial integrity, individual freedoms, equal rights for all citizens, and a clear separation between religion and state.
Meanwhile, Iran and Israel have been engaged in an escalating air conflict since Israel launched airstrikes on June 13, aiming to stop Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only.
The US, which bombed Iranian nuclear sites on early Sunday, says its goal is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, not to provoke a wider war.
Though officials in Washington say the strikes are not intended to bring about regime change, US President Donald Trump had hinted at the possibility of toppling Iran’s hardline clerical rulers in a social media post after the attack.
(With inputs from agencies)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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