Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last shah, is positioning himself as a transitional leader to help steer Iran toward democracy. In an interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, Pahlavi — who has lived abroad since the 1979 Islamic Revolution — said recent U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could precipitate the collapse of the current regime. He maintains that many Iranians trust him to guide a peaceful transition despite 47 years in exile.
“Iran has been on my mind every single year of my life,” Pahlavi told Pelley, describing a lifelong commitment to his homeland. He set out four principles he believes should shape Iran’s rebuilding: preserve the country’s territorial integrity; separate religion from the state as a foundation for democracy; guarantee legal equality and individual liberties for all citizens; and institute a democratic process that allows Iranians themselves to decide their future form of government. He added that he supports peace with Israel and advocates fully dismantling any Iranian nuclear weapons program.
Pahlavi said he has communicated with members of the Trump administration and with members of Congress. In January, former President Trump expressed uncertainty about whether Iranians would accept Pahlavi’s leadership, saying he didn’t know if Iranians would embrace him but that he would accept their choice. Pahlavi said he does not expect formal endorsements from foreign governments and emphasizes that millions of Iranians inside and outside the country are calling for his leadership. He frames his role as a temporary, bridging position to facilitate a transition to democratic rule rather than as a bid for long-term office.
Aged 18 when the 1979 revolution erupted, Pahlavi was in Lubbock, Texas, training with the U.S. Air Force. His father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had close ties with the United States but faced criticism for repressing opposition and concentrating wealth; the shah left Iran in 1979 and died in exile the following year, while Ayatollah Khomeini’s return inaugurated the Islamic Republic.
From exile this January, Pahlavi urged continued protests. Hundreds of thousands demonstrated, and the regime’s crackdown has been reported to have killed an estimated 20,000 people. Pahlavi argues that both historical grievances and recent events make a rethinking of Iran’s future unavoidable and says he is prepared to help guide a peaceful, democratic transition.