Reza Pahlavi urges tougher international pressure on Tehran, says security forces are quietly defecting

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, has called on the international community to intensify pressure on Tehran as Iran’s nationwide protests continue under heavy repression. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Pahlavi argued that foreign governments should take concrete steps such as targeting the Revolutionary Guard leadership, freezing assets linked to senior clerical figures, expelling Iranian diplomats, and improving access to satellite-based internet to bypass censorship. Pahlavi said Iranians inside the country are the decisive force behind the uprising and insisted that foreign military intervention is not needed. He also claimed that some members of Iran’s military and security apparatus have shown covert loyalty to him and that a secure channel has been created for potential defectors. His renewed visibility comes amid reports of widespread arrests, communication blackouts, and escalating violence. Measuring support inside Iran remains difficult because of restrictions on media and internet access, but his name has appeared in protest chants and diaspora demonstrations. Pahlavi again emphasized a future Iran based on democratic governance and said he supports peaceful relations with the international community, including Israel, while leaving Iran’s final political system to be decided by the Iranian people.