Iran’s crown prince makes harsh statement about Khamenei’s death
Supreme leader of Iran Ali Khamenei (Photo: Getty Images)
Crown prince Reza Pahlavi made a historic statement after the confirmation of the death of Ali Khamenei. The son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, who is in exile, published his address on social media.
Read also: Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei confirmed dead, body found — media
The son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, who has lived in exile for decades, called the death of the ayatollah Ali Khamenei the beginning of a national celebration and the de facto end of the Islamic Republic. In his address, he urged security forces to immediately side with the people while the doors to the future remain open.
Reza Pahlavi, who has lived in the US since 1979, reacted to the death of Iran’s supreme leader very sharply. He compared Khamenei to the mythical villain Zahhak — a symbol of ruthless tyranny in Persian culture.
“Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty Zahhak [an evil king in Iranian mythology] of our time, the killer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the pages of history,” the prince wrote on social media.
Ultimatum to the army and police
The main emphasis in Pahlavi’s address was on the security forces. He warned members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military, and the police that any attempt to defend a collapsing system or appoint a successor to Ali Khamenei would be a dead end.
Main points of the ultimatum:
- No legitimacy: Any new successor will not have authority and will be considered an accomplice to the regime’s crimes.
- Last chance: Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi directly told security forces that now is their final moment to join the patriots.
- Transition guarantees: The prince called on the army to help ensure a stable transition of the country toward a free and prosperous future.
End of an era or beginning of a struggle
For Pahlavi, the death of the ayatollah is not just a biological fact but a point of no return. He is convinced that the Iranian people will no longer allow the old system to retain power.
“This marks the beginning of our great national celebration; but it is not the end of the road,” he concluded, hinting at a large-scale restructuring of the country that should begin immediately.
