‘Cut the snake’s head off for good’: Iran’s crown prince in exile has urgent message for President Trump
The last time Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, was in his home country was July of 1978.
“It’s been a long time, but I’ll be there soon,” Pahlavi vowed on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel, as massive protests have erupted that could finally topple the Islamist government in Tehran.
And now Pahlavi has a message for U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Mr. President, you have already established your legacy as a man committed to peace and fighting evil forces,” Pahlavi began. “There’s a reason why people in Iran are renaming streets after your name. They know that you’re total opposite to Barack Obama or Joe Biden. They know that you’re not going to throw them under the bus as they have had before.
“This why they believe that they are empowered by the hope that you have their back. Your words of solidarity with the Iranian people and your administration has had tremendous positive effect. Let’s hope that we can permanently seal this legacy by liberating Iran so that we and you can make Iran great again. Let’s partner on this and have a better future for our countries and for our people. This is an opportunity that has presented itself.”
WATCH:
IRAN’S EXILED CROWN PRINCE TO TRUMP: “LET’S LIBERATE IRAN – AND MAKE IT GREAT AGAIN”
Reza Pahlavi:
“You have already established your legacy as a man committed to peace and fighting evil forces… you’re the total opposite to Barack Obama or Joe Biden.
Let’s hope we can… https://t.co/NkKHAlOF56 pic.twitter.com/YGeTNYo6La
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 11, 2026
On Jan. 2, Trump said if Iran shoots “and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” – President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/ctNbfJD9jv
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 2, 2026
The crown prince said he is prepared to return to Iran “at the first possible opportunity. I’m already planning that on the transition team.”
“We hope only that the Iranian people this time will be victorious and they will be because I know that Iranians are prepared to die for this cause and so am I.”
The Royal family of Iran.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi has offered to lead Iran to a transition to democracy, when the regime falls.
He has called on Iranians to intensify protests and take to the streets. pic.twitter.com/BdProHp0BS
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 10, 2026
He indicated both he and the Iranian people want to make sure that “all the evil that has been brought by this regime from the time it came to power dissipates and we can finally breathe in an atmosphere of tranquility.”
Pahlavi says he’s ready and willing to act in a government transition that could be a two-year process, with free and fair elections being the ultimate goal.
“As I said, I’m here to lead. But the choice is that of the people,” he explained. “We need to make sure that this time the Iranian people are successful.”
WATCH:
IRAN’S EXILED CROWN PRINCE: “I’M HERE TO LEAD – BUT THE CHOICE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE”
Reza Pahlavi framed himself as a unifying figure, arguing that public trust, not force, is what gives him legitimacy at this moment.
“As I said, I’m here to lead. But the choice is that of… https://t.co/asJJtRDgw3 pic.twitter.com/aVf2jrtiy5
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 11, 2026
“We need to cut the snake’s head off for good so it can no longer be a threat to Iranian interests, to American interests, to regional interests, and the only solution is to make sure that this regime goes down for good and the Iranian people can liberate themselves. Because they are contrary to this regime that is a sworn enemy of America. We Iranians are a friend to America. We’ve proved it before and we’ll prove it again.”
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Bartiromo the protesting in Iran “is the biggest deal since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
“The people don’t want the ayatollah anymore,” he continued, but added if the Islamic ayatollah stays in power, “It’d be the biggest disaster in the Mideast in maybe forever.”
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‘Process of collapsing’: Exiled crown prince of Iran says ‘what has begun is irreversible’