作者： admin

In a significant address from Washington D.C., Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed Shah, declared the inevitable collapse of Iran’s clerical establishment while urging intensified international pressure to support protest movements. The opposition figure asserted that substantial segments of Iran’s military and security apparatus have privately pledged allegiance to his cause, positioning himself as a unifying force for transitional stability.

Pahlavi’s Friday conference marked a strategic appeal for comprehensive international intervention—encompassing political, economic, and military dimensions—against Tehran’s leadership. Despite acknowledging that government crackdowns have temporarily suppressed demonstrations, the 65-year-old monarchist heir maintained that popular discontent continues to simmer beneath the surface.

The U.S.-based descendant of the Pahlavi dynasty, who has lived abroad since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, faces skepticism regarding his actual influence within Iran’s fragmented opposition landscape. His claims of military support contrast with assessments from Western officials, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently expressed doubts about Pahlavi’s capacity to consolidate domestic backing.

This development occurs against the backdrop of reported thousands of casualties during recent anti-government protests and escalating geopolitical tensions, including Saudi Arabia’s refusal to permit its territory or airspace for potential U.S. operations against Iran. Pahlavi’s emergence as a prominent opposition voice represents both the persistent yearning for change among segments of Iranian society and the challenges of unifying disparate anti-regime factions operating from exile.

In a significant development within Syria’s complex geopolitical landscape, the United States has unsuccessfully urged the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw their remaining fighters from strategic positions in eastern Aleppo’s countryside. According to regional sources familiar with the matter who spoke with Middle East Eye, the Kurdish-led militia has formally rejected Washington’s proposal to vacate their last foothold on the western bank of the Euphrates River near Dayr Hafir.

The refusal comes amid intensified shelling exchanges between Syrian government forces and SDF fighters, marking a dramatic escalation after months of relative calm between the parties. This renewed conflict follows a months-long ceasefire that collapsed earlier this month when Damascus launched operations to expel SDF-linked security units from Aleppo’s al-Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods, alleging civilian casualties from sniper and mortar attacks.

Multiple regional sources revealed that the Syrian government’s offensive received implicit authorization from Washington before implementation. Despite this, U.S. authorities subsequently requested the SDF to withdraw from the western Euphrates bank—a demand the Kurdish forces have now officially declined.

The tension further complicates implementation efforts of the 10 March memorandum of understanding, an agreement designed to integrate Kurdish-led forces into Syria’s military infrastructure. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa publicly accused SDF leadership of failing to honor the agreement, asserting their decision-making remains subordinate to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leadership based in Iraq’s Qandil Mountains.

Ilham Ahmed, the SDF’s de-facto foreign affairs official, countered these claims during a Thursday press conference, stating: “The government’s assertion that we have not implemented the 10 March agreement is incorrect, and international parties are aware of this.” Ahmed confirmed ongoing communications with both U.S. and Turkish officials while awaiting responses to several de-escalation initiatives.

Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns escalate as reports indicate the SDF blocked civilian evacuation routes established by Syrian forces on Thursday. A U.S. military delegation visited Dayr Hafir to assess the situation and reportedly planned to pressure the SDF to permit civilian departures.

The Syrian military has publicly encouraged defections, broadcasting statements that welcome Kurdish and Arab fighters wishing to rejoin government forces while specifically condemning “PKK terrorist militias” for allegedly targeting civilians and undermining Syria’s social fabric. Defense Ministry reports claim several SDF fighters have already surrendered weapons on the Dayr Hafir front.

With the Syrian army reportedly preparing broader operations to clear SDF positions, and diplomatic channels showing strain, the situation represents a critical deterioration in northeast Syria’s fragile stability.

In a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in separate telephone discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev on Thursday. The conversations centered on recent domestic unrest in Iran, with Araghchi presenting detailed allegations of foreign interference.

The Iranian diplomat asserted that initially peaceful demonstrations over economic concerns had been deliberately hijacked by externally-supported elements. He characterized the subsequent violence as the work of ‘trained terrorists’ operating with backing from the United States and Israel. Araghchi specifically accused Israel of maintaining a ‘direct role in arming and organizing terrorists’ while condemning what he termed ‘meddlesome’ statements from US officials that allegedly encouraged destabilizing activities.

During the dialogue with UN leadership, Araghchi detailed numerous incidents of violence targeting security personnel, civilian populations, emergency medical services, and religious sites. He drew parallels between these actions and tactics employed by the Islamic State, urging both the UN and Security Council to formally denounce the violence alongside what Iran considers illegal interventions by the United States.

In response, Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, emphasizing the importance of respecting basic human rights while simultaneously rejecting interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. He specifically referenced provisions regarding the non-use of force or threat of force in international relations.

The parallel discussion with SCO leadership yielded similar diplomatic reinforcement. Secretary-General Yermekbayev underscored the organization’s foundational principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs as essential components for sustainable international development.

In related developments, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, communicated through diplomatic channels that Iran ‘will not be passive in the face of the US threatening rhetoric.’ This statement, delivered to senior Swiss diplomat Gabriel Luechinger, further illustrates Tehran’s firm stance against perceived external pressures.

The ongoing protests, which began in late December across multiple Iranian urban centers, have evolved from expressions of economic dissatisfaction to occasions of significant civil unrest. Iranian authorities maintain they remain open to addressing legitimate economic concerns while simultaneously combating what they describe as foreign-sponsored violence and destabilization efforts.