Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, has said he is ready to lead the country after the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, said he has accepted what he described as a “mandate” from Iranians calling on him to guide the country through a transition away from the current regime.
In a video message shared on his X account on Friday, the opposition figure said the Iranian people had asked him to take responsibility for leading the transition once the existing government collapses.
“For nearly five decades, this terrorist regime has sown chaos and bloodshed across our region,” Pahlavi said.
“Now the Iranian people have called on me to lead the transition after the regime is gone. I have accepted that responsibility.”
Khamenei was reportedly killed on Saturday following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel inside Iran, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Under Iranian law, the responsibility of appointing the next supreme leader rests with the Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body that oversees leadership succession.
Until a new leader is appointed, the country is being governed by a transitional council made up of the president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council.
The supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran’s political system, including control over the military and key state institutions.
For years, Pahlavi has been one of the most prominent critics of the Islamic Republic from exile. He has repeatedly urged Iranians to protest against the government and has advocated for the removal of the current leadership.
He has also called for stronger relations between Iran and Western countries, including the United States and Israel.
Pahlavi said his priority would be to stabilise the country and allow Iranians to decide their future democratically.
“My commitment is to ensure the transition is orderly, the country is stabilised, and Iranians determine their future through the ballot box,” he said.
He also appealed to countries in the Arab world to support a potential transitional government led by the opposition.
“Iranians have made their choice at an enormous price. Now I ask our friends in the Arab world to join us and prepare to recognise and engage our transitional government,” he added.
The Assembly of Experts has yet to announce a successor to Khamenei.
