Exiled royal Reza Pahlavi calls for uprising in Iran, Khamenei's ouster

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, issued a dramatic call to action on Tuesday, urging Iran s military, police, and state employees to join a nationwide uprising against the Khamenei-led Islamic Republic, declaring that its "fall has begun.”

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

In a sweeping address to the Iranian people, Pahlavi wrote on X, "The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing. Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hiding underground and has lost control of the situation. What has begun is irreversible."

He said in his message on X: “My Fellow Countrymen, The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing. Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hid-ing underground and has lost control of the situation. What has begun is irreversible. The future is bright, and together we will turn the page of history. Now is the time to stand up; the time to reclaim Iran. May I be with you soon.”

He expressed solidarity with those affected by the country s turmoil and reiterated his long-standing opposition to war. "In these difficult days, my heart is with all the defenceless citizens who have been harmed and have fallen victim to Khamenei's warmongering and delusions."