Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, has applauded the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets, calling the action a decisive moment and urging citizens to prepare for what he described as a “final battle.”
The strikes, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly focused on missile and military facilities in several Iranian cities, including Tehran. Trump stated that the goal was to neutralize what he termed “imminent threats,” adding that American forces would dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and military infrastructure.
In a message shared on social media platform X in Arabic and later translated into English, Pahlavi said the promised support from the United States to the Iranian people had arrived. He characterized the operation as a humanitarian intervention aimed at the Islamic Republic and its security apparatus, rather than the Iranian nation itself.
While expressing support for the strikes, Pahlavi emphasized that meaningful political change must ultimately be achieved by Iranians. He declared that the final outcome would depend on the people and encouraged them to be ready for renewed public action.
He also appealed to members of Iran’s armed forces and security agencies, urging them to align with the populace rather than the ruling establishment. According to him, their allegiance should be to the country and its citizens, not the current leadership.
In his remarks, Pahlavi warned that those who continue to back the authorities risk facing the same fate as the government, referencing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Addressing Trump directly, Pahlavi acknowledged the resilience of the Iranian people despite what he described as severe repression. He called on the U.S. administration to exercise caution to avoid civilian casualties.
Although he spoke of future mobilization, Pahlavi advised supporters to remain indoors for now to ensure their safety. He urged them to stay alert and prepared for further instructions at what he described as the appropriate time.
Born in 1960, Pahlavi is the eldest son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Empress Farah Diba. He has lived in exile in the United States for decades and remains a vocal critic of Iran’s Islamic Republic.