Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi welcomed news of the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following a joint US-Israeli military strike. He praised the President of the United States Donald Trump Kudos to him for his decisive action.Pahlavi wrote in a post onPahlavi laid out a road map called the “Iran Prosperity Plan,” proposing a referendum to draft and approve a new constitution, followed by internationally supervised elections before disbanding the transitional government.He added that any attempt by the regime’s remnants to appoint a successor would fail, warning that any new leader would lack legitimacy and would inherit the crimes of the outgoing regime. Pahlavi urged the military, law enforcement and security forces to assist Iran’s stable transition to freedom and prosperity.Pahlavi addressed citizens directly: “This may be the beginning of our great national celebration, but it is not the end of the road. Stay alert and ready. The time for a widespread and decisive presence on the streets is near. Thanks to President Trump, their moment of liberation is coming…The Iranian people know they are not alone.”Pahlavi stressed that the final victory will be won by the Iranian people themselves, who have endured decades of repression, mass protests and state violence.
A transparent roadmap for democratic transition
In a detailed op-ed in The Washington Post, Pahlavi laid out a comprehensive plan for a peaceful and transparent transition in the country following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.He described the Islamic Republic as an expansionist and oppressive regime that has subverted regional sovereignty, pursued nuclear weapons and committed mass atrocities at home, citing the reported massacre of more than 30,000 protesters in January 2026.He stressed that while U.S. and Israeli attacks have weakened the regime, ultimate victory belongs to the Iranian people who have endured decades of repression. Pahlavi called on opposition groups, including monarchists, republicans, liberals, leftists, and religious and ethnic minorities, to unite around four principles: territorial integrity, individual freedoms, separation of religion and state, and the right of the people to choose their government.Pahlavi also envisioned a free Iran that pursued regional peace and cooperation and proposed the framework of the “Cyrus Accords” inspired by Cyrus the Great. According to the Washington Post, the plan aims to replace hostility with diplomacy and economic cooperation, including recognizing Israel, and transform Iran into a pillar of stability and prosperity in the Middle East. He praised Trump for supporting the people of Iran and said U.S. unity empowered the country’s citizens in their fight for freedom and democratic governance.Reza Pahlavi was the eldest son of Iran’s last king, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 revolution. Born in Tehran in 1960, he was officially appointed crown prince in 1967. Pahlavi left Iran in 1978 for military training in the United States and later earned a degree in political science from the University of Southern California. After his father’s death in 1980, he declared himself the Shah in exile.Earlier on Saturday, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran targeted key military and nuclear facilities near Khamenei’s office. President Donald Trump called the attack a measure to protect American lives and global security and declared that the Iranian people’s “time to be free is coming.”
