Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, on Friday urged the international community to take immediate action against Iran’s ruling establishment, warning that the Islamic Republic is “close to collapse” and that continued global inaction would only result in further civilian deaths.

Addressing a news conference in Washington, Pahlavi said the crisis in Iran should no longer be framed as a debate between reform and revolution but as a struggle between “occupation and liberation”. He described the current government as a “hostile occupying force” that, he claimed, had hijacked the country from its people.

Pahlavi alleged that Iranian authorities had used large-scale violence against civilians, claiming thousands were killed in a short span during recent unrest. He accused security forces of pursuing injured protesters into hospitals and executing them and said families were allegedly forced to pay for the ammunition used before the bodies of their relatives were returned.

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Despite what he described as intensified repression, Pahlavi said the regime’s aggressive response was a sign of weakness rather than strength. “The Islamic Republic is close to collapse,” he said, adding that its actions reflected desperation to cling to power as public resistance grows.

Calling for coordinated international action, Pahlavi outlined several measures, including protecting civilians by weakening Iran’s repressive apparatus, increasing economic pressure through asset freezes and sanctions on oil shipments, and ensuring unrestricted internet access for Iranians through secure communication technologies.

He also urged governments to diplomatically isolate Tehran by expelling Iranian diplomats, pursuing legal action against officials accused of crimes against humanity, and demanding the immediate release of political prisoners. Pahlavi stressed that supporting the Iranian people did not require foreign military intervention, arguing that decisive international steps could accelerate change and save lives.

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