‘I will return to Iran’: Exiled leader Reza Pahlavi says people want him to lead protests

'I will return to Iran' Pahlavi says

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s late shah, said that the people of Iran have called on him to lead the ongoing protests, describing the unrest as a battle between “occupation and liberation.”

In a post on X, Pahlavi wrote: “The battle in Iran today is between occupation and liberation. The Iranian people have called for me to lead. I will return to Iran.”

The battle in Iran today is between occupation and liberation. The Iranian people have called for me to lead. I will return to Iran. pic.twitter.com/V0JEVs55cw

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 18, 2026

Living in exile in the Washington area, Pahlavi has increasingly positioned himself as a leader of the opposition, as the cleric-run state cracks down ruthlessly on mass demonstrations. Since the protests erupted in late December over soaring prices, economic hardship, and mismanagement, he has repeatedly called for US intervention.

The unrest has so far claimed at least 5,000 lives, including around 500 members of the security forces, according to an Iranian official who cited verified figures. The official accused “terrorists and armed rioters” of killing “innocent Iranians.”

The protests, which began on December 28, have evolved from economic grievances into a nationwide challenge to clerical rule, marking the deadliest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Rights groups have documented over 3,300 deaths and more than 24,000 arrests, although exact figures remain disputed.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against killing protesters, thanking the regime for reportedly calling off scheduled mass executions in a post last Friday. On Saturday, he also told Politico, “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has defended the regime’s actions, acknowledging “several thousand deaths” but blaming the unrest on foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel. Iranian judiciary officials have indicated that some executions may still proceed, with charges under the Islamic legal term Mohareb, which carries the death penalty for “waging war against God.”

As the protests continue, Pahlavi’s call to return to Iran underscores the growing boldness of the opposition and highlights the deepening crisis facing the clerical leadership.