‘12,000 Iranians massacred in 48 hours’: Reza Pahlavi seeks international support to topple Khamenei’s regime
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "‘12,000 Iranians massacred in 48 hours’: Reza Pahlavi seeks international support to topple Khamenei’s regime")
Photograph: (AFP)
The exiled crown prince presented himself as a leader for Iran’s democratic transition, saying millions abroad share principles like territorial integrity, separation of religion and state, individual liberty, equality, and the right to choose their government.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday (Jan 16) accused the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of committing massacres of the Iranian people, claiming that the brutal crackdown by authorities killed more than 12000 people in 48 hours, that is one murdered every one second. Pahlavi said that he is confident the Islamic Republic would fall in the face of mass protests and called for intervention.
"The Islamic Republic will fall; the question is not if, but when," Reza Pahlavi told a news conference in Washington.
The son of the late Shah alleged that the regime's "bloodlust has not diminished" and that the Iranian people need urgent international help. He added that the Islamic Republic is not a legitimate government of the country but a "hostile occupying force" which invaded five neighbouring countries and is now invading Iran itself with the help of "Hezbollah fighters, Iraqi militias and other mercenaries.
The exiled crown prince positioned himself as a suitable candidate to lead Iran’s transition to democracy, saying millions of Iranians living abroad are united on core principles such as territorial integrity, separation of religion and state.
"I have a clear plan for the transition to democracy. Millions of Iranians in and outside Iran are united around these four core principles: Iran's territorial integrity, Separation of religion and state, Individual liberty and equality of all citizens and the Iranian citizen's right to decide a democratic form of Govt," he said.
Trending Stories
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Strengthening his standing as leader of Iran, Reza Pahlavi said he remained committed to his country even during his ongoing exile by volunteering as a fighter pilot during the Iran-Iraq conflict, adding that hewas stepping in to lead the movement against the Islamic regime and promised that "I will return to Iran."
Reza Pahlavi made these statements during a press conference in Washington as the anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic show signs of easing following brutal crackdowns by Iranian authorities. The Trump administration, while increasing pressure on Iran through further sanctions and announcing additional 25 per cent tariffs on countries trading with Tehran, also stated that it has all the options on the table, including US military action. The White House has been mounting rhetoric against Iran, with repeated warnings of military strikes if the Islamic Republic "continues the killings of anti-government protesters."
Pahlavi has lived in exile in the United States since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled his pro-Western father.
