Reza Pahlavi Emerges as Central Figure in Iran’s Opposition Movement Amid Reports of Military Defections

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran, has become a pivotal leader in the country’s opposition movement as unrest intensifies and cracks appear within the Islamic Republic’s power structure. Recent developments indicate that military officers inside Iran have begun reaching out to Pahlavi, expressing intentions to defect and pledge allegiance to him, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power.

In a recent video message, Pahlavi asserted that the regime’s command and coordination systems are “collapsing rapidly,” suggesting that the Islamic Republic’s fall could be imminent. He called on Iranians to rise up, unveiling a 100-day transition plan aimed at steering the country toward democracy and assuring the public that Iran would avoid chaos during the transition. “We are not Iraq or Afghanistan. We are a nation with millennia of unity. If there’s rule of law and justice, there will be no anarchy,” Pahlavi emphasized, promising a lawful transition with fair trials and equal rights for all Iranians, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or belief.

Pahlavi, who leads the National Council of Iran from exile, has long advocated for a secular democracy and a free referendum to determine Iran’s future governance. He has consistently called for international support, arguing that regime change—not mere reform—is the only viable path to stability in Iran and the broader Middle East. “The world has to come to the conclusion that so long as the Islamic regime exists in Iran, multiple problems for the world...will not disappear,” Pahlavi said in a recent interview, urging Western governments to provide “maximum support” for Iranian citizens.

Western governments have reportedly initiated contact with Pahlavi, recognizing his growing influence and leadership in the opposition. At a recent summit in Munich, opposition groups agreed to back Pahlavi as the leader of the national revolution and the transitional period until the election of a new parliament and the establishment of a democratic government through free elections. “Our goal today is solely the salvation of Iran, and in the future our mission is to hold free elections in Iran,” Pahlavi stated at the event.

While Iran’s opposition remains fragmented, with various factions including monarchists and the People’s Mujahideen Organization (MEK), recent protests and external pressures have fostered unprecedented solidarity among opposition groups. Many activists and dissidents inside Iran have reportedly endorsed Pahlavi as a unifying figure, though some remain cautious about unleashing mass unrest amid ongoing instability.

As global discussions on a post-Islamic Republic Iran intensify, Pahlavi continues to coordinate with dissidents and activists both inside and outside the country, positioning himself as the principal architect of Iran’s potential democratic transition. The coming weeks are expected to be critical as the opposition movement gains momentum and the regime’s grip appears increasingly tenuous.