Iran's Exiled Shah's Son Urges Global Pressure to Back Protests

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, has called on Western governments to increase political and economic pressure on Iran, saying stronger international action is needed to support anti-government protests in Iran seeking to end clerical rule.

Speaking in Washington, Reza Pahlavi said the current Iran protest movement, although facing severe repression, has not been defeated.

He urged governments to move beyond statements of concern and take steps that directly weaken Iran’s ruling establishment and security apparatus.

Pahlavi called for sanctions focused on senior officials and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, arguing that the group plays a central role in crackdown on protesters. He also suggested expelling Iranian diplomats from foreign capitals and freezing Iranian regime assets held overseas.

• Reza Pahlavi urges West to step up pressure to back Iran protests
• Exiled shah’s son calls for sanctions on IRGC and senior Iranian officials
• Pahlavi says global pressure can raise cost of repression for Iran’s leadership

According to Pahlavi, parts of Iran’s military and security forces are disillusioned with the current system. He claimed that some members have privately expressed support for regime change in Iran, though independent verification of such claims remains difficult due to Iran’s tight control over information and media.

Pahlavi also appealed for practical assistance to protesters, particularly expanded access to uncensored internet access in Iran. He said satellite internet services and other technologies could help Iranians bypass government shutdowns and organize safely. He stressed that outside military intervention was not required, saying the protest movement must remain Iranian-led.

Iran has experienced repeated waves of unrest driven by economic crisis in Iran, political repression, and restrictions on personal freedoms. Security forces have responded with arrests, violence, and internet blackouts, sharply limiting the visibility of protests. Rights groups report hundreds of deaths during recent crackdowns, figures the Iranian authorities dispute.

The Iranian opposition abroad remains fragmented, with no single leader commanding universal support inside the country. Even so, Pahlavi has emerged as one of the most prominent exiled voices calling for change. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously questioned whether Pahlavi has sufficient backing within Iran, highlighting uncertainty among foreign governments over how to engage with opposition figures.

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Pahlavi said sustained international pressure could tip the balance by raising the cost of repression for Iran’s leadership while giving protesters space to continue their campaign for change.