Shah’s son says he could return to Tehran amid unrest

Rome — Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, has said he could return to Tehran as a transitional leader during what he described as the “final phase” of a popular uprising against the current regime.

Speaking during a visit to Italy, Pahlavi met several Italian parliamentarians at the Chamber of Deputies and also held talks with Maurizio Gasparri, president of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

In an interview with the television programme Cinque Minuti, hosted by Bruno Vespa, Pahlavi claimed that “millions of people” had taken to the streets in Iran chanting his name.

“I would be ready to return to Iran as a leader of the transition in the final stage of this uprising,” he said.

However, his remarks have drawn criticism from Iranian activists abroad. The Association of Iranian Democratic Women in Italy rejected his claim to leadership, stating that he “does not represent anyone”.

Pahlavi, who has lived in exile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew his father, Mohammad Reza Shah, has long positioned himself as a potential figurehead for a secular and democratic Iran. His comments come amid renewed tensions and reports of protests within the country.

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