Iran’s exiled prince praises Trump’s 'moral clarity' for supporting protesters amid crackdown
WASHINGTON, DC: Protests in Iran that began on December 28 have intensified into a nationwide movement driven by economic collapse and widespread discontent with the ruling regime.
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets, and chants calling for change and even for the return of former monarchy figures have emerged. In this context, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has issued statements praising President Donald Trump's support and outlining his vision for Iran’s future.
Reza Pahlavi on Trump’s support for Iranian protesters
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Pahlavi said that Trump’s warnings to Iran’s ruling regime have given protesters “greater strength and hope.”
Pahlavi contrasted Trump’s stance with that of previous administrations, saying that, unlike “President Obama and President Biden who sold out the people of Iran,” Trump has shown support for Iranians demanding change.
Pahlavi also said that Trump’s clear warnings to Tehran have already influenced how the regime has responded to the unrest. He said that when Iran’s security forces recognize there would be consequences for violent repression and that Iranians will not be abandoned, it “raises the cost of brutality and affects behavior inside the system.”
According to Pahlavi, some Iranians are even writing Trump’s name on walls in Iran to thank him for his posture toward the protests. He encouraged European leaders to draw lessons from what he called Trump’s “moral clarity on Iran.”
He also urged, "President Trump doesn't need to listen to the so-called experts in DC or those who tell him this regime can be reformed from within. All he needs is to listen to the people of Iran on the streets who are asking for his help."
The unrest began with the rial’s collapse and worsening economic woes from UN sanctions, later expanding into nationwide protests demanding political change, with reports of demonstrations across the country calling for Pahlavi’s return.
Reza Pahlavi calls for further protests amid crackdown by Iran
Pahlavi has followed up his praise for Trump’s statements by continuing to call for further street demonstrations. After initial protests following his appeal, he urged Iranians to return to the streets for two more nights with the aim of “seizing city centers.”
Independent outlets reported scenes from towns including Mahdasht, where protesters were seen setting fires and chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei, for his part, has said the Islamic Republic will not back down, hinting that security forces could escalate violence against demonstrators. Meanwhile, Iran’s judiciary chief emphasized that the regime “will show no mercy to the rioters,” a shift from prior messaging that suggested possible dialogue over economic grievances.
He also said that the ongoing protests represent a moment of deep frustration with the entire political system, not just a response to economic hardship. More importantly, Pahlavi emphasized that the people of Iran must decide their own future through “a free constitutional process and genuinely free elections.”
Pahlavi stated that while some Iranians support a constitutional monarchy and others prefer a republic, his role was to ensure a democratic process where all visions could be presented and decided at the ballot box.
To that end, the exiled prince championed the Iran Prosperity Project, a roadmap backed by the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), aimed at economic recovery and reintegration into the global community.
