Exiled crown prince says those cracking down on Iran protests are ‘legitimate targets’

Reza Pahlavi, an Iranian opposition figure and son of the deposed shah, announces a new stage in the effort “to overthrow the Islamic Republic and reclaim our dear Iran.”

“In addition to seizing and holding the central streets of cities, all institutions and apparatuses responsible for the regime’s false propaganda and cutting off communications are considered legitimate targets,” he says in a video statement.

“Government employees, and the armed and security forces, have the opportunity to join the people… or choose complicity with the murderers of the nation,” he says.

Pahlavi says all Iranian diplomatic missions abroad should wave the flag that was used before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. A protester managed to briefly replace the Islamic Republic flag at its London embassy with that older version, and Pahlavi appears to back similar actions elsewhere, arguing that those offices belong to the people of Iran, not the regime.

ملت عزیز ایران، هم‌وطنان شجاعم،

شما در دو هفته گذشته بویژه در چهار روز اخیر با تظاهرات میلیونی، پایه‌های رژیم نامشروع جمهوری اسلامی را به لرزه در آورده‌اید. اینک، با اتکا به پاسخ میلیونی شما به فراخوان‌های روزهای گذشته، و با مشروعیت و مقبولیتی که از شما دریافت کرده‌ام، مرحله… pic.twitter.com/mZNo2wLlSg

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 11, 2026

“We are on the verge of reclaiming our dear Iran from the Islamic Republic. Khamenei and his regime have suffered several heavy blows from you, and we must not give them a chance to catch their breath again,” the son of the former shah says.

“The regime is facing a serious shortage of repressive forces, and the increased shooting at [protesters] is not out of strength, but due to a lack of mercenaries and fear of accelerating their downfall. We will not allow these criminals to shed more of our youth’s blood on the ground.”

“The freedom of Iran is near. The blood spilled of Iran’s immortal children guides us toward victory. We are not alone. Global assistance will arrive soon as well,” Pahlavi adds.

Pahlavi is seen as a figure uniting many of the protesters, but not all support his family’s return to power.