Ayatollah Khamenei and Reza Pahlavi (Photos/AFP)
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi welcomed the announcement of the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after joint US-Israeli military strikes. He praised US President Donald Trump for his decisive action.In a post on the website
Shocking announcement by Iranian state television regarding Khamenei: “He joins the supreme kingdom and drinks the nectar of martyrdom”
Pahlavi has drawn up a road map, dubbed the Iran Prosperity Project, which proposes holding a referendum to draft and ratify a new constitution, followed by internationally supervised elections, after which the transitional government will be dissolved.
He added that any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor will fail, warning that any new leader will lack legitimacy and will inherit the crimes of the former regime. Pahlavi urged the military, law enforcement and security forces to assist in a stable transition to a free and prosperous Iran.
Addressing the citizens directly, Pahlavi wrote: “This may be the beginning of our great national celebration, but it is not the end of the road.
Stay alert and prepared. The time for a broad and decisive presence in the streets is very near. Thanks to President Trump, the hour of their liberation is at hand… The Iranian people know they are not alone.”Pahlavi stressed that the final victory will be achieved by Iranians themselves, who have endured decades of repression, mass protests and state violence.
A transparent road map for the 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 after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.He described the Islamic Republic as an expansionist and oppressive regime that undermined regional sovereignty, sought nuclear weapons, and committed mass atrocities at home, citing the massacre of more than 30,000 protesters in January 2026.He stressed that while the US and Israeli strikes weakened the regime, ultimate victory rests with the Iranian people, who have suffered from decades of oppression.
Pahlavi called for unity among opposition groups, including monarchists, republicans, liberals, leftists, and religious and ethnic minorities, 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 seeking regional peace and cooperation, and proposed the “Cyrus Accords”, a framework inspired by Cyrus the Great.
This plan aims to replace hostility with diplomatic and economic cooperation, including recognition of Israel, and to transform Iran into a pillar of stability and prosperity in the Middle East, according to the Washington Post. He praised Trump for his support of the Iranian people, noting that American solidarity has empowered the nation’s citizens in their struggle for freedom and democratic rule.Reza Pahlavi is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, 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 to receive American military training and later earned a degree in political science from the University of Southern California. After his father’s death in 1980, he declared himself Shah in exile.US-Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday targeted key military and nuclear sites near Khamenei’s office. President Donald Trump described the strikes as a measure to protect American lives and global security, declaring that “the hour of your freedom is at hand” for the Iranian people.
