Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the country’s last shah, is making his case to lead a transition to democracy in Iran. Speaking with 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, Pahlavi — who has lived outside Iran since his father was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution — said he believes recent U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could trigger the fall of the current regime. He told Pelley the people of Iran trust him as a transitional leader despite his 47 years in exile.
“Iran had been on my mind every single year of my life,” Pahlavi said. “Every single, when I wake up in the morning, the first thing that is on my mind is Iran.”
Pahlavi outlined four core principles he says should guide the rebuilding of Iran: preservation of Iran’s territorial integrity; a clear separation of religion and state as a prerequisite for democracy; equality of all citizens under the law and protection of individual liberties; and a democratic process that lets the Iranian people decide their future system of governance. He said he envisions peace with Israel and supports fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The prince said he has been in contact with the Trump administration and members of Congress. In January, former President Trump expressed doubt about whether Iranians would accept Pahlavi’s leadership, saying he didn’t know whether Iranians would accept him but added that he would be fine with it if they did. Pahlavi responded that he does not expect official endorsements from foreign governments and that millions of Iranians inside and outside Iran are calling his name. He framed his role as transitional leadership — a bridge to a democratic future, not a bid for office.
Pahlavi was 18 and living in Lubbock, Texas, where he was training with the U.S. Air Force to be a fighter pilot when the 1979 revolution erupted. His father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had close ties with the United States but was criticized for repressing opposition and concentrating wealth. The shah left Iran in 1979 to avoid bloodshed and died the following year, and Ayatollah Khomeini’s return marked the start of the Islamic Republic.
From exile this January, Pahlavi urged Iranians to keep protesting. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets; the regime’s crackdown reportedly killed an estimated 20,000 citizens. Pahlavi said that history and recent events alike compel a reimagining of Iran’s future and that he sees himself positioned to help guide a peaceful, democratic transition.