Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has called for support for protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government. Speaking at a press conference in Washington on 16 January, Pahlavi outlined plans to return to Iran and called for action against the country’s Revolutionary Guards.
Pahlavi said a “surgical strike” on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would “facilitate our task and prevent more loss of life,” as demonstrations across Iran continue.
Asked about future leadership in Iran, Pahlavi said it was “for the Iranian people to decide,” while adding that he believed he had the support of the population and was seeking to “help them liberate themselves.”
Pahlavi mentioned plans to implement a new constitution and stated that he is confident the Islamic Republic “will fall — not if, but when.”
Reza Pahlavi claimed some members of Iran’s security apparatus refused to participate in the crackdown and that foreign militia fighters were brought in to suppress demonstrations.
Before the press conference, a moment of silence was observed for protesters killed during the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and UK have reduced personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar as a precautionary measure.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously warned Iran against killing protesters and said he would take “very strong action” if executions occurred, without ruling out military measures.
Iran’s parliament speaker has warned that any U.S. strike could make Israel and United States military and shipping centres in the region legitimate targets.
Pahlavi has emerged as a leading figure in Iran’s fragmented opposition and has repeatedly called upon the citizens to escalate protests, which continue despite the possible risk of deadly reprisals.
Human rights groups say more than 2,000 protesters have been killed since unrest began on 28 December over economic grievances and escalated into calls for the end of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei’s rule.
Iranian authorities have labelled the protests as “riots” backed by foreign enemies, and protesters have faced deadly force amid a near-total shutdown of internet and communications.
A senior U.S. administration official says a ceasefire agreed with Iran in early April has effectively ended hostilities for an imminent congressio...
Hundreds of protesters clashed with emergency services in a remote Northern Territory town overnight following the arrest of a man suspected of abd...
U.S. passenger air services to Venezuela resumed on Thursday (30 April), as an American Airlines flight landed in Caracas, restoring a commercial l...
The South Caucasus peace process is entering a sensitive phase, shaped not only by negotiations between Baku and Yerevan but also by competing exte...
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis voted on Friday (1 May) to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament across all areas, escalating tensions a...
Hundreds of protesters clashed with emergency services in a remote Northern Territory town overnight following the arrest of a man suspected of abducting and murdering a five-year-old Indigenous girl, police confirmed on Friday.
U.S. passenger air services to Venezuela resumed on Thursday (30 April), as an American Airlines flight landed in Caracas, restoring a commercial link between the two countries after seven years.
The South Caucasus peace process is entering a sensitive phase, shaped not only by negotiations between Baku and Yerevan but also by competing external narratives, lobbying dynamics and shifting geopolitical alignments.
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis voted on Friday (1 May) to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament across all areas, escalating tensions after lawmakers in Baku accused the chamber of sustained bias.
A report published by Minval Politika has raised new questions over alleged efforts by Luis Moreno Ocampo to shape international pressure against Azerbaijan and influence political dynamics around Armenia.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions of dollars.
A senior U.S. administration official says a ceasefire agreed with Iran in early April has effectively ended hostilities for an imminent congressional war powers 1 May deadline, arguing that the absence of any military exchanges for more than three weeks removes the need for further authorisation.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with emergency services in a remote Northern Territory town overnight following the arrest of a man suspected of abducting and murdering a five-year-old Indigenous girl, police confirmed on Friday.
The South Caucasus peace process is entering a sensitive phase, shaped not only by negotiations between Baku and Yerevan but also by competing external narratives, lobbying dynamics and shifting geopolitical alignments.
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis voted on Friday (1 May) to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament across all areas, escalating tensions after lawmakers in Baku accused the chamber of sustained bias.
Kazakhstan says it is continuing its investigation into the 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, with the official inquiry still ongoing.
The final day of the Youth Forum on United Nations Global Goals 2026 in Istanbul focused on innovation, cooperation and global impact, with young participants and experts underlining the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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