“This is a humanitarian intervention. Its target is solely the regime—not the country, not civilians. However, the ultimate victory must come from us. We must fight the final battle. It is time to take to the streets again,” said Cyrus Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, in a video published online.
Pahlavi emphasized that “the help promised to the Iranian people by U.S. President Donald Trump has finally arrived.”
“But we must bring this matter to its conclusion ourselves—we must fight the final battle,” he stressed.
“This is a humanitarian intervention. Its target is solely the regime—not the country, not civilians. However, the ultimate victory must come from us. We must fight the final battle. It is time to take to the streets again,” Pahlavi urged on Instagram on Saturday.
“The Islamic regime is collapsing. My message to the security forces is clear: you pledged to protect the people and Iran—not the Islamic Republic. It is your duty to defend the nation, not those who oppress it. Join the people and help them. Otherwise, you will end up like this regime,” he warned.
Pahlavi also addressed Trump in the video, asking him for “caution and protection of civilian lives, as they themselves are fighting the regime.”
“The people of Iran are your ally and the ally of the free world. We will never forget your assistance in this most difficult moment in Iran’s history,” he assured.
“Iranians, now more than ever you must focus on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran. Stay in your homes, remain calm and safe. But also be ready and vigilant to take the final action and return to the streets at the right moment,” said the son of the shah who was overthrown in 1979.
On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States carried out airstrikes on targets in Iran. Israel announced the launch of a “preemptive strike.” Explosions were heard in Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom, among other places. In a video released shortly after the attacks began, Trump said that American forces were conducting a “massive and ongoing operation” targeting Iran’s military. He called on the Iranian people to take control of their country.