Recent events in Iran bring the country to a historic breaking point, drawing global attention. What begins as protests over economic hardship quickly evolves into a widespread challenge to the Islamic regime itself.
After forty-seven years in power, the regime diverts vast national resources abroad while ordinary Iranians struggle to meet basic needs at home. The Iranian people, long enduring political repression and economic collapse, make clear they are no longer seeking reform within the current system—they demand regime change.
This time, the protests are unprecedented in scale and unity. Across cities and towns, men and women, young and old, pour into the streets. What emerges is not a fragmented movement but a coordinated, public expression of anger and awareness that forces the world to focus on Iran.
In this context, exiled prince Reza Pahlavi—long an advocate for Iranian rights internationally—steps forward to provide leadership. His calls for nationwide demonstrations see significant participation, highlighting the depth of public desire for regime change. Protesters not only demand an end to the Islamic Republic but also openly call for Pahlavi’s return.
As protests intensify, President Donald Trump publicly expresses support for demonstrators and warns Iranian authorities that killing civilians will provoke serious consequences. Shortly thereafter, the Iranian government shuts down internet access nationwide. Reports soon emerge of more than 12,000 killed, mass arrests, and enforced disappearances—acts that represent one of the harshest and most systematic state-led massacres in modern history and clearly constitute crimes against humanity under international law. Iran plans to execute roughly 800 detainees, a move reportedly halted after Trump’s warning. The Supreme Leader’s statement that the country would not “forgive criminals” is widely seen as a tactical pause.
President Trump later acknowledges how the Iranian regime could manipulate international authorities and states in a Politico interview that Iran’s leadership must change immediately. This recognition signals that the regime’s propaganda no longer finds willing buyers globally.
Iran now stands at a historic crossroads. If the Iranian people’s push for democracy receives sustained international support, it could guide the region toward stability. If the opportunity is lost, Iran risks becoming a North Korea–style state—isolated, militarized, and dangerous. The regime’s survival would eliminate opposition voices, accelerate nuclear development, and deepen regional instability, yet the world largely remains passive.
Many, including the author, do not support the restoration of monarchy. Yet, in the current political landscape, Pahlavi is widely seen as the only figure capable of unifying the opposition and representing it internationally. Democracy is never guaranteed—it requires daily practice, public participation, and institutional safeguards. Based on Pahlavi’s stated commitment to free elections and civil liberties, I believe the chance of a democratic outcome under his leadership appears higher than any alternative.
As an Iranian who has lived in the United States for more than 20 years, I still choose to write anonymously. Revealing my identity could endanger family in Iran and expose me to imprisonment or worse. This alone underscores the severity of the regime in power.
This moment matters—not only for Iran but for the world. The protests are not just about one nation’s future; they are a stand against a dictatorship whose actions pose threats far beyond its borders.