‘Islamic Republic Is Collapsing’: Reza Pahlavi Urges Iranians to Prepare for ‘Final Battle,’ Appeals to U.S. and Security Forces

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

An exiled Iranian opposition figure and son of Iran’s last monarch, Reza Pahlavi, has declared that the “Islamic Republic is collapsing” and called on Iranians to prepare for what he described as a decisive final phase in the struggle against the country’s clerical establishment.

In a strongly worded message addressed to “my dear compatriots,” Pahlavi said humanitarian assistance promised by U.S. President Donald Trump had “now arrived,” describing it as targeted not at Iran as a nation but at “the Islamic Republic, its apparatus of repression, and its machinery of killing.”

“This is a humanitarian intervention,” Pahlavi stated, emphasizing that the assistance was directed at the regime and not the Iranian people. However, he insisted that “the final victory will still be achieved by us,” urging citizens to be ready to return to the streets when called upon.

Despite his declaration that the regime is nearing collapse, Pahlavi asked Iranians to remain indoors for now and “remain calm and safe,” while staying alert for further instructions.

“In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever we must remain focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran,” he said, promising to communicate through social media, satellite broadcasts, or radio if internet disruptions occur an apparent reference to previous government-imposed shutdowns during unrest.

Iran has experienced periodic internet blackouts during waves of anti-government protests, including the 2019 fuel price demonstrations and the 2022–2023 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Those protests, which spread nationwide under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom,” were met with mass arrests and deadly crackdowns, according to international human rights organizations.

In one of the most striking sections of his message, Pahlavi addressed members of Iran’s military, law enforcement, and security agencies, urging them to side with the people rather than the ruling establishment led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not the Islamic Republic and its leaders,” Pahlavi said. “Join the nation and help ensure a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will sink with Khamenei’s ship and his crumbling regime.”

Analysts say such appeals to the armed forces reflect a long-standing strategy by opposition movements seeking to fracture the loyalty of security institutions, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which remains a central pillar of the regime’s power structure.

Pahlavi also directed a message to U.S. President Trump, thanking him for what he described as support for the Iranian people, while urging caution to protect civilian lives.

“The people of Iran are your natural allies and the allies of the free world,” he said, warning against actions that could endanger civilians amid heightened tensions.

Although details of the referenced U.S. “assistance” were not specified in the statement, Washington has historically imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Tehran and provided rhetorical backing to Iranian protesters during periods of unrest. Successive U.S. administrations have maintained that their measures target the Iranian government rather than the population.

Pahlavi’s remarks come at a time of sustained economic hardship in Iran, driven by international sanctions, inflation, and currency devaluation. Public dissatisfaction has been fueled by rising living costs, unemployment, and perceptions of political repression.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy and established the Islamic Republic, opposition figures in exile—including Pahlavi—have periodically called for regime change. However, Iran’s leadership has consistently dismissed such calls as foreign-backed interference.

While it remains unclear what immediate developments prompted Pahlavi’s latest declaration, his language signals a belief within parts of the opposition that the current political moment presents a rare opportunity for structural change.

“We are very close to final victory,” he said, expressing hope to return to Iran “as soon as possible so that together we may reclaim Iran and rebuild it.”

The Iranian government has not yet publicly responded to the statement as at the time of filing this report.However, keep tab with Panafric Reporters for more on the development.