The son of the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in the 1970s, Cyrus Reza Pahlavi, has issued a statement following the death of Iran’s Islamic leader, Ali Khamenei. According to Pahlavi, the ayatollah’s death marks the end of the Islamic Republic and its “imminent consignment to the ash heap of history.”
“Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our times, who killed tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the pages of history,” Pahlavi wrote in his statement. In his view, the ayatollah’s death “de facto signifies the end of the Islamic Republic and its imminent consignment to the ash heap of history.”
Pahlavi added that “any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to fail.” He expressed the conviction that whoever might be named as successor would lack legitimacy and would undoubtedly also share responsibility for the crimes of the regime.
He addressed the military, law enforcement agencies, and security forces with a warning that any attempt to sustain the collapsing regime would not succeed.
“This is your final opportunity to join the nation, to help ensure a stable transition of Iran to a free and prosperous future, and to take part in building that future,” he added.
“This may be the beginning of our great national celebration, but it is not the end of the road. Remain vigilant and be prepared,” the son of the overthrown Shah told his compatriots.