Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah in exile, told a crowd of more than 200,000 supporters in Munich on Saturday that he was ready to steer the country towards a “secular democratic future”, after US President Donald Trump said a change in leadership would be “the best thing”.
He said that regardless of whether the U.S. military or other Western forces decide to intervene, Iran’s fight will continue and the regime will eventually fall, CBS News reports.
“I am here to guarantee the transition to a secular democratic future. I am determined to be the leader of the transition for you, so that one day we can have one last chance to decide the fate of our country through a democratic, transparent process at the ballot box,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
While he stated that “the vast majority of the Iranian people” supported him and his leadership to lead the country from the current regime to a future democracy, he noted that whether the US military or another Western power enters, Iran’s “struggle will continue and the regime will still collapse”, but “if they have support, there will be fewer casualties and it will happen faster”.
His remarks came as Washington maintained diplomatic ties with the Tehran government, with Switzerland confirming on Saturday that mediator Oman would host a new round of talks in Geneva next week.
The crowd repeatedly chanted “Javid Shah” (long live the Shah) and waved green, white and red flags bearing the lion and sun symbol of the former monarchy.
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The 62-year-old Iranian-born protester, who identified himself only as Said, said the Iranian regime was effectively over and it was time for it to end.
Reza Pahlavi called on Iranians in the country and in the diaspora to continue their protests, urging them to chant slogans from their homes and rooftops at 8:00 p.m. (1630 GMT) on Saturday and Sunday to join the demonstrations held in Germany and other countries.
Thousands also took part in rallies from downtown Los Angeles to the National Mall in Washington, marching in solidarity with the anti-government protests in Iran. Protesters in Toronto called on Trump to act immediately.
Trump said on Friday that a change of leadership in Iran would be “the best thing that could happen” as he ordered a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, ramping up military pressure on Tehran.
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He has previously warned of possible military action to support a surge in protests in Iran that peaked in January and were met with a crackdown that human rights groups say has left thousands dead.
‘Iranian people believe in you’: Pahlavi to Trump
Addressing reporters at the Munich Security Conference, Reza Pahlavi said: “President Trump… the Iranian people have heard you say that help is on the way, and they believe in you. Help them. It’s time to end the Islamic Republic.”
When Iran launched its crackdown, Trump initially said the United States was “locked and loaded” to help the protesters. More recently, however, he has directed his military warnings at Tehran’s nuclear program, which was targeted by US forces last June during Israel’s unprecedented 12-day war with Iran.
Meanwhile, at least 7,010 people, most of them protesters, have been killed in the crackdown, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, although the group and other human rights organizations say the true number is likely much higher. It added that more than 53,845 people were arrested.