“Iran’s Freedom Is Near”: Pahlavi Calls for Final Phase Against Regime

As reports of mass killings continue to emerge from Iran, Reza Pahlavi has stepped forward with a series of forceful statements, calling what he described as a decisive “final phase” against the Islamic Republic and urging Iranians to press forward despite a near-total information blackout.

In a video message released in the early hours of the morning in Tehran, Pahlavi declared: “Iran’s freedom is near. The spilled blood of Iran’s immortal sons guides us. We are not alone. Global assistance will arrive soon. Await my next messages.” The message was followed by additional statements in which he framed the unrest as a historic turning point rather than a protest cycle.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, has increasingly positioned himself as the head of the exiled opposition and a figure many supporters see as a potential leader were the current regime to fall. As violence intensified inside Iran, he issued a longer call outlining concrete steps he believes should be taken on the ground. “I announce a new phase of the national uprising to overthrow the Islamic Republic and reclaim our beloved Iran,” he said. “Inside Iran, in addition to seizing and holding the central streets of cities, all institutions and agencies responsible for the regime’s propaganda of lies and for cutting communications are considered legitimate targets.”

Addressing security forces and state employees directly, Pahlavi added: “Employees of state institutions, and members of the armed and security forces, have the opportunity to join the people and stand with the nation or choose to collaborate with the murderers of the people and purchase for themselves the eternal shame and curse of the nation.” He also called on Iranian embassies and consulates abroad to adopt Iran’s historic national flag rather than that of the Islamic Republic, saying they “belong to the people of Iran.”

The opposition leader has echoed the same message in international media. In an interview with Fox News, Pahlavi said: “I know that Iranians are prepared to die for this cause and so am I.” Asked when he last visited Iran, he replied that it was in 1978, adding: “I’ll be there soon.”

These statements come as the scale of the crackdown remains deeply uncertain. Rights groups cited by international media say more than 500 people have been killed in recent days, while other estimates, including eyewitness-based reporting from inside Iran, place the toll in the thousands. Videos and testimony from hospitals and forensic facilities describe overwhelming numbers of bodies, though verification has been severely limited by the communications blackout.

Iran’s leadership has rejected those accounts, declaring three days of national mourning “in memory of the martyrs” and accusing protesters of “ISIS-style violence.” President Masoud Pezeshkian called for regime-organized rallies and a “national resistance march” in support of the government.

International pressure has continued to build. The United Nations secretary-general said he was shocked by reports of excessive force, while European officials voiced concern. In Washington, Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is in contact with Iranian opposition figures. Asked what message was being conveyed, he replied: “Yeah, yeah. You’re gonna find out pretty soon.”

As bloodshed, blackout, and political maneuvering unfold simultaneously, Pahlavi’s repeated appeals underscore his bid to lead a fractured opposition at a moment of extreme volatility. The outcome remains unclear, but his voice is becoming increasingly central as Iran enters one of the most consequential phases of its crisis.