Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi told Fox News that the Iranian regime is "crumbling" following reported U.S. and Israeli strikes that he says killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and nearly 50 officials. He described the events as a pivotal moment and called for a clean break from the current leadership and free, democratic elections. Pahlavi urged Western support for allowing Iranians to choose their future and argued a democratic Iran would boost regional stability and create significant economic opportunities.
Exiled Crown Prince: 'Regime Is Crumbling' After Reported Strikes, Calls For Democratic Transition
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, said the Islamic Republic is "crumbling" and called for a democratic transition following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes.(Getty Images)
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi told Fox News on Saturday that the Islamic Republic is "crumbling" and that many Iranians are prepared to reclaim their country, one week after what he described as U.S. and Israeli military operations that he says struck the regime.
According to Pahlavi, the strikes began last weekend and led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and nearly 50 senior regime figures — an event he characterized as a turning point for potential change in Iran. These claims reflect Pahlavi's account and have not been independently verified in this report.
Iranian opposition leader and son of the last shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Reza Pahlavi, holds a press conference in Paris on June 23, 2025.
"The situation on the ground is the fact that people obviously were waiting for an opportunity to get back to the streets to take their country back. We see more and more elements of the regime crumbling. A lot of people at home are ready to step in and this is exactly what will be required for a successful and stable transition,"
Pahlavi made the remarks during an appearance on the Fox News program My View with Lara Trump. He argued that, following the reported death of the supreme leader, the Iranian people would not accept any outcome that preserves the current ruling structure.
Call For A Clean Break And Democratic Elections
Pahlavi said only a "clean break" from the existing leadership could create space for a genuine democratic alternative. He insisted that anyone who participates in a future government should not be directly affiliated with the outgoing regime.
The sun sets behind a plume of smoke rising after a U.S.–Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
"The transition involves leaving the people of Iran with that choice, and only the ballot box should determine the outcome and who would be, in the future, responsible for our country,"
He called on Western democracies to support Iranians' right to choose their future freely, explicitly naming the United States as a key partner in backing a transparent electoral process.
Democracy, Regional Stability And Economic Potential
Pahlavi argued that a democratic Iran would help stabilize the region and open substantial economic opportunities. He noted Iran's economy has been largely closed off for decades and estimated that the U.S. economy could see more than $1 trillion in revenue during the first decade after a democratic transition.
"As a democracy, Iranians will be committed to establish an element of cordial relationship with our neighbors, bring peace to the area, bring an element [of] stability, which ultimately is conducive to development, prosperity... I think America has a lot to gain as a result,"
Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has lived in exile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has been working to position himself as a unifying figure for opposition forces seeking democratic change inside Iran.
Note: This article reports claims made by Reza Pahlavi regarding recent strikes and casualties; those claims were presented by Pahlavi in his interview and were not independently verified here.
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