Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi has announced that he has accepted the call to lead Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, is the most prominent opposition figure to the current government.
He has long advocated for protests against the Islamic Republic, the removal of the regime, and closer ties with the West and Israel.
Khamenei was reportedly killed on Saturday in US and Israeli strikes in Iran.
Under Iranian law, an assembly of experts is responsible for appointing the country’s next leader.
Meanwhile, a three-man transitional council, including the president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardians’ Council, has been appointed to govern temporarily.
In a video statement posted on his social media account, Pahlavi said, “For nearly five decades, this terrorist regime has sown chaos and bloodshed across our region. The Iranian people have called on me to lead the transition after the regime is gone. I have accepted that responsibility.”
He added, “Part of their mandate to me is to restore our nation and our foreign relations to normalcy. My commitment is to ensure an orderly transition, stabilize the country, and allow Iranians to determine their future through the ballot box. Iranians have made their choice — at an enormous price. I now call on our friends in the Arab world to recognize and engage with our transitional government.”
The assembly of experts has not yet named Khamenei’s successor, who traditionally has the final authority over the country’s affairs.
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