Exiled Crown Prince Eyes Transitional Iran Amid Crisis
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, is positioning himself as a potential transitional leader if the Islamic Republic collapses, advocating a secular, democratic system with a constitution drafted by Iranians and a separation of religion from state. He has courted Western support, including meetings with U.S. officials, and has urged caution amid U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s military capabilities. Domestic support remains divided, with polls showing a roughly split stance on his legitimacy. He has published an updated Emergency Phase booklet as part of his Iran Prosperity Project, signaling preparation for post-regime needs and a more assertive stance in protests, while explicitly ruling out an automatic restoration of the monarchy.