As missiles fell on Iran’s most fortified nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—a louder call rose from exile. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and son of Iran’s last monarch, declared this “Iran’s Berlin Wall moment,” urging a peaceful, democratic transition in the face of a weakening Islamic Republic. Backed by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the push for regime change seems to now carry international weight.
Pahlavi Steps Up
In an impassioned address, Reza Pahlavi announced the establishment of a transition platform, inviting Iran’s military, security, and civil society to break ranks with the regime. His message: this is not merely about toppling the Islamic Republic—it’s about rebuilding Iran into a secular, democratic state.
The complete text of my opening remarks at today’s press conference:
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the international press corps, good afternoon.
Thank you for being here today. This is a historic moment for our nation. I will begin with a brief message to my compatriots in… pic.twitter.com/2IX4lC8Nsj
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) June 23, 2025
Pahlavi stated, “This regime is defeated, teetering on the edge of collapse… The time has come to end this ruin and begin a new era for Iran.” He pledged to lead a national unity summit and proposed an Iran Prosperity Project to map a phased economic recovery.
Trump and Netanyahu Join the Chorus
US President Donald Trump, flush from authorising the bunker-buster strikes, posted on social media: “It’s not politically correct to say ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was more direct. After confirming the strikes that took out key access routes to Fordow and killed several top nuclear scientists, he said: “Now is the time for the brave people of Iran to go for the jugular of the mullah regime.”
The people of Iran should know – Israel stands with you pic.twitter.com/MfwfNqnTgE
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 30, 2024
Russian Support, But No Clear Help
On the diplomatic front, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin condemned the US strikes as “absolutely unprovoked aggression,” saying, “There is no basis or justification for the bombing,” and offered support to the Iranian people—though without specifying concrete actions.
Reuters reports that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that the escalation could plunge the entire region into an abyss and noted that Moscow was monitoring for any radiation hazards from the damaged nuclear facilities.
Iran thanked Russia for standing by it and accused the US and Israel of violating international law. But even as foreign ministers exchanged courtesies, the power dynamics within Iran seemed increasingly unstable.
Cracks in the Regime
Inside Iran, signs of internal decay are hard to ignore. Unconfirmed reports suggest Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s family and senior officials are preparing to flee. Videos have surfaced of Iranian civilians confronting security forces, chanting, “They must go!” in reference to the regime.
Pahlavi’s address referenced these stories—from a grieving mother in Tehran to defecting officers from the Iranian military—as proof that the Islamic Republic’s hold is fracturing. “We are at a crossroads,” he warned. “One road leads to chaos. The other—to a peaceful transition.”
Iran’s Brutal History of Dissent
For decades, Iran has ruthlessly crushed dissent. From the 1999 student protests to the Green Movement, and more recently the Women, Life, Freedom protests following Mahsa Amini’s death, thousands have been jailed, tortured, or killed. Activists remain under surveillance, journalists gagged, and executions continue to target political prisoners.
But this time feels different. The dual force of external military blows and internal popular revolt has brought the regime to its most vulnerable state in decades.
A Nation on the Brink
As cities smoulder and nuclear ambitions lie in ruins, Iran’s future hangs in the balance. Reza Pahlavi’s promise of a secular, democratic Iran has struck a chord with a fatigued and fractured population. Whether this is truly Iran’s Berlin Wall moment — or a prelude to further chaos — now depends on the power of the Khamenei regime, the will of Iran’s people and the choices of the international community. A glance at how the Middle-Eastern countries have fared after regime changes forced by external interventions – such as those in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, etc. – shows the road ahead seems tough for Iran.
Kirti Pandey is a senior independent journalist.
