Son of ousted shah tells Fox 'prepared to return to Iran' at first opportunity
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- Exiled shah’s son Reza Pahlavi says he is ready to return to Iran and lead a democratic transition.
Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of Iran’s last Shah, said Sunday he is ready to return to Iran at the first possible opportunity and help guide a transition to a democratic government, in his most direct comments yet amid nationwide unrest and calls for change.
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Speaking on a U.S. television program, Pahlavi said he was “prepared to return to Iran at the first possible opportunity” and was already planning such a move. He described his role as ensuring a transparent transition in which Iranians could freely elect their leaders and determine their future.
Pahlavi, who has lived in exile in the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew his father’s monarchy, has increasingly engaged with Iranians through media and social platforms as protests continue across the country.
The unrest, fueled by economic hardship and broader political grievances, has drawn large crowds in major cities.
In his remarks, he framed his potential return not as a bid to restore the monarchy but to lead a peaceful transition toward democratic governance and to give Iranians the opportunity to chart their own political future.
Pahlavi’s statements come as some demonstrators have invoked nostalgia for pre-revolutionary Iran, with chants referencing the late Shah and calls for broader change. However, opinions among Iranians vary, with some wary of his past association with the monarchy and others uncertain about his role in a modern political landscape.
The U.S.-based opposition figure has previously urged nonviolent civil disobedience and peaceful protest as the path forward, emphasizing democratic goals and respect for human rights in any future system of governance.
Pahlavi’s renewed prominence underscores the high stakes of Iran’s ongoing political tensions, as demonstrators continue to challenge the ruling establishment and push for reforms that could reshape the country’s future.
