I Will Return: Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi Says Iranians Want Him to Lead Protests

As Iran endures its deadliest unrest in decades, with the reported death toll exceeding 5,000, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the country’s last shah, said protesters have urged him to take a leadership role in the movement, framing the crisis as a struggle between “occupation and liberation.”

Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile as the son of Iran’s former monarch, said demonstrators have called on him to spearhead the campaign, describing the conflict as a battle between “occupation and liberation.” Iran, he said, is witnessing its bloodiest unrest in decades, with more than 5,000 people reported dead.

In a video statement shared on X, Pahlavi said the violence had not subsided despite official denials and accused the clerical leadership of orchestrating widespread killings. “The people of Iran are being slaughtered in the streets and in their homes by a regime that shows no mercy,” he said.

“Today, the conflict in Iran is between liberation and occupation. I have been called to lead by the Iranian people. I will return to Iran,” Pahlavi said in a post accompanying the video.

Pahlavi has claimed that more than 12,000 Iranians have been killed since the unrest began, a figure far higher than those cited by officials or rights groups. An Iranian official, however, told Reuters that at least 5,000 people had died since the protests erupted, including around 500 members of the security forces. The official blamed “terrorists and armed rioters” for civilian deaths and said the final toll was unlikely to rise significantly.

Liberation vs Occupation

“The current conflict in Iran is between occupation and liberation, not between reform and revolution. The Iranian people have already made their decision,” Pahlavi said. “Their heads are unbound but covered in blood. Despite the lies you are hearing from the regime, its bloodlust has not diminished. The slaughter has not stopped.”

Unable to return to Iran, Pahlavi currently resides in the United States. Amid the anti-Khamenei demonstrations, he has emerged as the most prominent opposition figure outside the country.

“The people have not retreated. One thing has become clear because of their determination,” he said. “On the ground, the Iranian people are acting decisively. Now is the time for the international community to fully join them. I will return to Iran.”

“The people have not given up. One thing has become clear due to their resilience,” he added. “On the ground, the Iranian people are acting decisively. The time has come for the global community to fully support them. I am returning to Iran.”

The protests, which began late last month, initially erupted over rising prices but have since evolved into a direct challenge to the ruling establishment, becoming the deadliest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

What started as demonstrations against rising living costs has turned into the most lethal uprising since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, now posing a direct threat to Iran’s ruling regime.

Reclaiming the Streets: Pahlavi Calls

Pahlavi urged Iranians to resume mass demonstrations despite ongoing efforts by security forces to suppress dissent. In another message posted on X, he called on protesters to return to public squares over a three-day period.

“Raise your voices of anger and protest,” he said, adding that “the world sees your courage and will offer clearer and more practical support to your national revolution.”

Opposition figures allege that the crackdown has involved the use of lethal force, including the deployment of security units and, according to Pahlavi, foreign militia fighters. Iranian officials have rejected those claims, blaming armed opposition groups and foreign adversaries for provoking the violence.

The demonstrations, which began on December 28, rapidly spread across the country. Northwestern Kurdish regions, where separatist groups have long been active, saw some of the deadliest clashes. While tensions remain high, residents and state media say a heavy security presence has since pushed protesters off the streets.

Execution Threat

Despite indications that some executions may have been postponed, judiciary officials have said capital punishment remains a possibility for certain detainees. Those charged with Mohareb — an Islamic legal term meaning waging war against God — face the death penalty under Iranian law.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, according to state media, “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not allow domestic or international criminals to go unpunished.”