Son of Iran’s last shah urges US action as supporters rally in Germany and American cities

A demonstrator chants slogans while holding an Iranian flag dating from before the 1979 Islamic revolution during a march in support of the people of Iran by members of the American-Iranian community in Washington, DC. Photo / Roberto Schmidt, AFP

The exiled son of Iran’s last shah said he was ready to lead the country to a “secular democratic future” at a rally in Munich, after United States President Donald Trump said a change of power would be the “best thing”.

It came as Washington continued to engage diplomatically with Tehran’s Government, with Switzerland confirming that mediator Oman would host a fresh round of talks in Geneva next week.

US-based Reza Pahlavi, who has not returned to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, told the crowd of around 200,000 people in Germany of his supporters that he could lead a transition.

“I am here to guarantee a transition to a secular democratic future,” he said.

“I am committed to be the leader of transition for you so we can one day have the final opportunity to decide the fate of our country through a democratic, transparent process to the ballot box.”

“Javid shah” [long live the shah]," the crowd chanted as they waved green-white-and-red flags with a lion and a sun - the emblem of the toppled monarchy.

“The Iranian regime is a dead regime,” a 62-year-old protester originally from Iran who gave his name only as Said told AFP. “It must be game over.”

Pahlavi has urged Iranians at home and abroad to continue demonstrating, calling on them to chant slogans from their homes and rooftops to coincide with protests in Germany and elsewhere.

Thousands of protesters in various demonstrations from downtown Los Angeles to the National Mall in Washington marched in solidarity with anti-government protests in Iran.

“Trump act now!” demonstrators chanted in Toronto.

Trump had said yesterday that a change of government in Iran would be the “best thing that could happen”, as he sent a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to ratchet up military pressure on Tehran.

He had earlier threatened military intervention to support a wave of protests in Iran that peaked in January and were met by a violent crackdown that rights groups say killed thousands.

“To President Trump ... The Iranian people heard you say help is on the way, and they have faith in you. Help them,” Pahlavi had earlier told reporters gathered at the Munich Security Conference.

“It is time to end the Islamic republic,” he said.

Iranian opposition divided

When Iran began its crackdown, Trump initially said the US was “locked and loaded” to help demonstrators.

But he has more recently focused his military threats on Tehran’s nuclear programme, which US forces struck last June during Israel’s unprecedented 12-day war with Iran.

Representatives of Iran and the US, which have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after the 1979 revolution, held talks on the nuclear programme last week in Oman.

A Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman told AFP that Oman would host talks in Geneva next week, without providing further details.

Videos verified by AFP showed people in Iran this week chanting anti-government slogans despite the ongoing crackdown, as the clerical leadership celebrated the anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

According to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 7010 people, mostly protesters, were killed in the crackdown, though they and other rights groups warn the toll is likely far higher.

More than 53,845 people have been arrested, it added.

Pahlavi had encouraged Iranians to join the wave of protests, which Iranian authorities have said were hijacked by “terrorists” fuelled by their sworn enemies, the US and Israel.

Many protest chants had called for the monarchy’s return.

The Iranian opposition remains divided and Pahlavi, 65, has faced criticism for his support for Israel, making a highly publicised visit in 2023 that fractured an attempt to unify opposition camps. He has also never distanced himself from his father’s autocratic rule.

Trump declined to say who he would want to take over in Iran from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but he added that “there are people”.

-Agence France-Presse