Reza Pahlavi says he’s prepared to assume leadership after defeat of the Islamic Republic.

In a dramatic new video address, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued his most direct call yet for a nationwide uprising against the Islamic Republic, declaring the regime’s fall “inevitable” and presenting himself as a prepared leader ready to steer Iran through the aftermath.

Speaking via social media, Pahlavi — son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi — proclaimed that “the Shi’a Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing,” perhaps due to Israel’s bombing of Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure and the profiling of a new big war in the Middle East.

Referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as “a frightened rat” who has “gone into hiding underground,” the 65-year-old prince painted a picture of a regime in freefall, claiming the future of Iran now lies in the hands of its people.

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“The regime’s apparatus of repression is falling apart,” he declared.

“All it takes now is a nationwide uprising to put an end to this nightmare once and for all.”

The video marked a strategic escalation by the exiled prince, who framed his message not only as a rallying cry for rebellion but as a formal bid to reclaim political leadership. Pahlavi stressed that detailed transition plans are in place to stabilize the country after the regime’s fall, seeking to allay fears of chaos or civil war.

“We are prepared for the first hundred days after the fall, for the transitional period, and for the establishment of a national and democratic government by the Iranian people and for the Iranian people,” said the exiled ruler.

In a sweeping appeal to the military, police, and government employees — many of whom he claimed have contacted him privately — Pahlavi urged them to abandon the Islamic Republic: “Do not stand against the Iranian people for the sake of a regime whose fall has begun and is inevitable. By standing with the people, you can save your lives.”

The crown prince also called on Iranians in cities across the country — from Bandar Abbas and Shiraz to Mashhad and Zahedan — to rise up en masse. “Let us all come forward… and bring about the end of this regime,” he urged.

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Pahlavi’s message comes at a time of rising domestic tensions and international isolation for the Islamic Republic. His call blends a potent mix of revolutionary fervor and monarchic revivalism, positioning himself not just as a symbol of opposition but as a ready alternative to the current system.

While his return to power remains uncertain and heavily contested within Iran, Pahlavi made it clear that he sees this moment as historic — and his role as essential. This unprecedented address signals a dual ambition: to spark immediate mass resistance and to restore the monarchy’s influence in shaping Iran’s post-Islamic Republic future.

It's unclear whether his address was sponsored by any government or interest group, or it's his own initiative as Pahlavi sees an opportunity to return home as a liberator.

Reza Pahlavi divides his residence time between France and the United States.