Exiled Prince Calls for Revolution, Iranians Say ‘Not Now’

On the eve of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, appeared at a televised press conference in Paris.

Clad in a grey suit and blue tie, the self‑styled crown prince delivered an impassioned appeal: urging the United States to resist offering Iran’s embattled leadership a “lifeline,” especially in terms of nuclear diplomacy.

He fiercely proclaimed that the Islamic Republic is teetering on collapse.

Pointing to what he termed a “Berlin Wall moment,” he implored ordinary Iranians to march into the streets and urged members of Iran’s army and security apparatus to defect and side with civilians

He declared: “This is our Berlin Wall moment,” adding:

“But like all moments of great change, it comes fraught with danger.…

“One road leads to bloodshed and chaos, the other to a peaceful and democratic transition.…

“If the West throws the regime a lifeline, there will be more bloodshed and chaos…

“No country and no people are safe…

“There is only one way to achieve peace: a secular democratic Iran.…

“I am here today to submit myself to my compatriots to lead them down this road of peace and democratic transition.”

He also emphasized that Western nations must stand with the Iranian people, not prop up the regime through renewed negotiations.

“I can hardly imagine … a regime that is now severely diminished … in the mood for more talks,” he said, adding that Khamenei’s rule is “closer every day to ending”

Misreading the Moment

Despite his urgent call to action, Pahlavi’s forecast of mass protests failed to materialize.

Across Iran, instead of turning its back on the regime, Iranians, including many disillusioned with Khamenei’s government, rallied around the nation in response to foreign airstrikes.

According to Middle East analyst Arash Azizi, Israel’s bombing campaign unified the population behind state symbols rather than against them .

Across media outlets, from the Financial Times to Jacobins UK and Al Jazeera, experts argue that Pahlavi has misjudged public sentiment.

People aren’t ready to side with Israel, especially amid widely criticized attacks that have killed hundreds, including civilians.

Trita Parsi, author of Treacherous Alliance, notes that Pahlavi’s refusal to condemn Israel’s bombing campaign, and his silence on attacks that killed civilians, “destroyed much of the brand name [of the shah]” among Iranians.

Indeed, his close ties to Israel, including a public 2023 visit where he met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, have deeply alienated many Iranians, whether government supporters or critics

Analysts say this has reinforced perceptions that Pahlavi is detached from ordinary Iranians who oppose both the Islamic Republic and any foreign intervention

The Appeal of Nostalgia

What remains of Pahlavi’s support today is rooted largely in nostalgia and diaspora identity.

In the West, particularly among British‑Iranians, his symbolic role as a link to a secular, pre‑revolution Iran keeps his base alive.

One British‑Iranian woman in her late 20s told Al Jazeera that she supports Pahlavi less for his policies than as an emblem of the Iranians who lived “under the shah … secular and pro‑West”.

Her 64‑year‑old aunt shared a similar sentiment, saying: “He’s … so friendly with America, Europe and Israel, and we need somebody like that [in Iran].”

Yet even within the diaspora, Pahlavi’s support is fragile.

His vision of monarchy is weighed down by historical baggage:

• his grandfather’s brutal suppression of dissent;
• extensive SAVAK-era torture; and,
• an overwhelming economic disparity that culminated in the infamous 2,500-year celebration in 1971—an event that heaped resentment on the monarchy and provoked public backlash .

From Monarchy to Democracy?

During the Paris conference, Pahlavi presented detailed plans:

• a national unity summit,
• an economic recovery roadmap, and,
• a three-phase reconstruction program.

These were all aimed at establishing a secular democratic Iran

He even suggested he might serve as a constitutional monarch if asked by the people, though he emphasized he does not seek power for its own sake

Yet these policy proposals contrast starkly with critiques from both inside and outside Iran.

Experts argue that without a credible popular base or support from security elites, Pahlavi’s vision is more fantasy than plausible strategy

Many Iranians remain wary of foreign-backed figures, fearing prolonged instability and authoritarian resurgence.

The Israel Question: Deal-Breaker?

Perhaps the deepest fissure comes from Pahlavi’s relationship with Israel.

His 2023 trip to Jerusalem and friendly ties with Netanyahu’s government struck a chord of alienation among Iranians, especially among pro-Palestinian or secular critics

Seeing him embrace Israeli military leadership while condemning the Iranian regime amplified concerns that he is more aligned with foreign powers than internal reform.

As Al Jazeera’s coverage put it: millions of Iranians oppose both the regime and Western intervention, making Pahlavi’s stance “counterproductive” .

The Verdict

Reza Pahlavi’s Paris call may have been a dramatic and dignified plea—“our Berlin Wall moment”—but the Iranian public largely remains unconvinced.

His failure to denounce civilian casualties, his open alignment with Western and Israeli actors, and long-standing misreading of Iran’s political currents all suggest he is more symbolic than strategic.

His appeal now hinges on nostalgia among older generations and Iranians abroad.

But with no real traction inside Iran and deep mistrust from civic groups, his political star seems unlikely to rise anytime soon.

In a moment many hoped would herald decisive change, Pahlavi stands at a crossroads, his legacy and future firmly tied to an exile-bound identity.

For millions of Iranians, the path forward may lie not in monarchic restoration, but in their own unyielding desire for internal, independent transformation.

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