By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince and a prominent critic of Iran’s establishment, has detailed ongoing efforts to prepare for a transitional government should the Islamic Republic collapse.
Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi who was overthrown in the 1979 revolution, has long been an advocate for democratic change and human rights in Iran. He is based in the Washington, D.C., area.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Saturday, Pahlavi announced that two key initiatives have been underway in recent months to ensure a seamless transition of power. “First, the development of a clear plan for governing the country within the framework of the Iran Prosperity Project,” he stated. “Second, identifying and selecting qualified women and men to serve in the Transitional System and implement this plan.”
He asserted that numerous Iranians possessing “valuable experience and expertise” have already expressed their readiness “to participate in the rebuilding of the country and to serve the homeland.”
According to Pahlavi, this selection process is being conducted under the guidance of Dr. Saeed Ghaseminejad, who directs the committee for reviewing and selecting members of the Transitional System. He noted that capable individuals from both inside Iran and the diaspora have been “identified and evaluated to lead various sections.”
Pahlavi emphasized the preparedness of this body, stating that the Transitional System, “under my leadership, will be ready to assume governance of the country as soon as the Islamic Republic falls, and in the shortest possible time, establish order, security, freedom, and the conditions for Iran’s prosperity and flourishing.” He concluded his message with the rallying call, “Long live Iran.”
The announcement follows a period of significant anti-government protests. In January, reports emerged of casualties during demonstrations that posed one of the most serious challenges to the Iranian leadership in years. The protests escalated despite a near-total communications blackout, which made it difficult to independently verify events on the ground.
The exiled prince had called for nationwide demonstrations at that time. Videos circulating on social media before the blackout showed crowds chanting against the government in Tehran and other cities. Iranian state media subsequently acknowledged “casualties,” attributing the unrest to “terrorist agents” from the United States and Israel without providing further specifics.
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noted the influence of Pahlavi’s calls at the time. “What turned the tide of the protests was former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s calls for Iranians to take to the streets… Per social media posts, it became clear that Iranians had delivered and were taking the call seriously to protest in order to oust the Islamic Republic.” She added that the internet shutdown likely “provided cover for security forces to kill protesters.”
Pahlavi’s efforts to position himself as a unifying figure for the opposition come amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel, a conflict that has resulted in further deaths and regional instability.
While former U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated he has someone in mind to take over Iran, he has not explicitly identified Pahlavi as his preferred candidate for leadership in a post-Islamic Republic scenario.
