WASHINGTON D.C February 28, 2026 — In a powerful video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah and a leading opposition voice, declared that promised U.S. assistance to the Iranian people has arrived — framing joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes as a “humanitarian intervention” targeting the Islamic Republic’s repressive apparatus, not the nation itself.
“My dear compatriots, decisive moments lie before us,” Pahlavi began in both Persian and English versions of the statement. “The assistance that the President of the United States had promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived. This is a humanitarian intervention, and its target is the Islamic Republic, its apparatus of repression, and its machinery of killing — not the country and great nation of Iran.”
The statement comes hours after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the launch of “major combat operations” against Iran, coordinated with Israeli strikes on military, missile, and nuclear-related sites. Explosions and smoke plumes have been reported over Tehran and other areas, as Iran prepares retaliation following nearly two months of widespread anti-regime protests.
Pahlavi emphasized that final victory belongs to the Iranian people: “Despite the arrival of this assistance, the final victory will still be achieved by us. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish this task in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is approaching.”
He issued a stark appeal to Iran’s armed forces, police, and security personnel:
“You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not to defend a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the nation and help ensure a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will sink with Khamenei’s ship and his crumbling regime.”
Addressing Trump directly, Pahlavi urged maximum caution to safeguard civilian lives:
“The honorable people of Iran… stood bravely for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost possible caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and the allies of the free world.”
To his fellow Iranians inside the country, he advised restraint for the moment while preparing for action:
“I ask you, for now, to remain in your homes and remain calm and safe. Stay alert and ready to return to the streets for the final action at the appropriate time, which I will communicate to you… We are very close to final victory. I hope to be with you as soon as possible so that together we may reclaim Iran and rebuild it.”
Pahlavi, who has lived in exile in the United States, has positioned himself as a unifying figure for a democratic transition, echoing calls from Iranian diaspora communities and protesters demanding the end of the 1979 Islamic Republic.
The developments mark a dramatic escalation in the Iran crisis, with Trump previously pledging support for regime change and the Iranian people’s freedom. International reactions continue to pour in as the situation evolves rapidly.
Life News Agency will provide ongoing updates as more details emerge.
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