From Washington, Reza Pahlavi calls for International intervention

Thekabarnews.com—Reza Pahlavi, an Iranian opposition member living in exile, has made his most explicit appeal yet for international action to bring down the Islamic Republic in Tehran. This comes after years of pressure from the U.S. and Israel that did not disrupt the stability of Iran’s ruling regime.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former Shah now living in exile, urged the world to do more than just talk about supporting demonstrators in Iran. Pahlavi says that the Islamic Republic will fall apart; the only question is when.

Just internal pressure is not enough

Pahlavi said at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 16, 2026, that protests in Iran are numerous and ongoing, but they cannot bring down the country’s power system on their own.

“The dictatorship can only stay in power by brutality and the protection of its military institutions. If the world really supports the Iranian people, the leaders of the Islamic Republic will not be in power for long,” Pahlavi declared.

Pahlavi, who has lived in the U.S. for decades, stressed that worldwide action must be planned, focused, and long-lasting, not just symbolic.

Pahlavi said that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was the most important part of the regime’s existence. He encouraged Western governments to put pressure directly on the IRGC’s leaders instead of only using broad economic sanctions that hurt regular people.

His ideas included blocking the assets of high-ranking military officials, making diplomatic isolation even tighter, and giving demonstrators in Iran secure ways to communicate.

“These moves would speed up the fall of the regime’s power structure,” Pahlavi said.

When external pressure failed to produce the desired results

Pahlavi’s renewed campaign comes at a time when more and more people believe that the U.S. and Israeli measures, which include sanctions, military threats, and intelligence operations, have not worked to bring down Iran’s leadership.

Even though there have been waves of protests and tensions in the region, Tehran has been able to keep control through its security forces. Analysts claim that this fact has pushed Pahlavi to take a more assertive stance on the world stage.

For Pahlavi, this time is both urgent and full of possibilities

Pahlavi did not go so far as to advocate for the return of the monarchy, but he did make it obvious that he is ready to head a transitional phase if the Islamic Republic falls.

Pahlavi said that changing the government would need someone who could bring together support from around the world and coordinate help from outside the country during a time of instability.

“I am not calling for a return to the past. I want to construct a future where Iranians can select what they want,” he remarked.

But inside Iran, people still question Pahlavi’s legitimacy. Critics say that his reliance on foreign help makes him less credible with Iranians who are leery of outside influence. Some others think that his calls support Tehran’s long-standing accusation that opposition politicians in exile work for foreign interests. Pahlavi still sees himself as a different voice that the rest of the world can trust.

Tensions in the region are rising

People who watch the news say that Pahlavi’s statements could make geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worse. Iranian leaders have said several times that opposition parties in exile are working for Washington and Tel Aviv. We anticipate a robust response from Tehran.

Pahlavi’s statement marks a new stage in Iran’s long-running political struggle, as the pressure and vitriol rise. The fight is now moving outside Iran’s borders.

It is yet unclear if his demand will lead to real action on the world stage or make divisions worse both inside and outside of Iran.