Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran’s deposed monarch, has issued a compelling appeal to Iranian government employees and security personnel, urging them to align with the burgeoning protest movement against the Islamic Republic. The exiled royal figure delivered his message through social media channels on Sunday, presenting security forces with a stark ethical choice.
Pahlavi’s declaration emphasized that state employees and military personnel must decide between supporting the Iranian populace or becoming accomplices to what he termed ‘murderers of the people.’ His statement followed disturbing reports from human rights organizations alleging that Iranian authorities were implementing extreme measures, including ‘mass killing’ operations, to quell ongoing civil unrest.
The opposition leader, who has emerged as a significant figurehead for the anti-regime movement, further advocated for the symbolic replacement of Islamic Republic flags outside Iranian diplomatic missions worldwide. He specifically called for the restoration of the pre-1979 revolutionary tricolor banner, describing the current standard as ‘disgraceful.’
This symbolic gesture gained tangible momentum in London over the weekend, where protesters successfully replaced the Iranian embassy flag with the historical monarchical standard. The diplomatic incident prompted Iran’s foreign ministry to summon Britain’s ambassador to Tehran in formal protest, as reported by the official IRNA news outlet.
The pre-revolutionary flag has transformed into a powerful emblem for international demonstrations supporting Iran’s domestic protest movement, representing growing global solidarity with those challenging the current regime.