Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi has called for possible US military intervention in Iran, arguing that such a move could accelerate the fall of the country’s clerical establishment and ultimately save lives.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Pahlavi said there were indications that Iran’s government was facing mounting internal pressure and that external action could hasten political change. He urged President Donald Trump’s administration not to prolong negotiations with Tehran over a nuclear agreement if talks failed to produce meaningful results.
Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah who has lived outside the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, said many Iranians were hoping Washington would conclude that diplomacy had reached its limits. He suggested that intervention could empower citizens to return to the streets and push for regime change.
His remarks come amid renewed US-Iran engagement over a potential nuclear deal. American and Iranian officials held talks in Oman recently, with further discussions expected. At the same time, Washington has bolstered its military presence in the region.
In a separate address to US troops, Trump described Iran as difficult in nuclear negotiations and hinted that projecting strength could influence the outcome of talks.
US officials, speaking anonymously to international media, indicated that contingency planning was underway for a potential extended military operation if ordered.
Iran has witnessed periodic unrest, with authorities conducting arrests following recent protests that spread from economic grievances to broader political demands. [KNT]
