In a powerful video address released hours after U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Tehran and other Iranian sites, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi announced that the assistance long promised by President Donald Trump has now materialized — framing it explicitly as a humanitarian intervention aimed at dismantling the Islamic Republic’s “repression machine and killing apparatus,” not the Iranian nation itself.“Compatriots, critical moments lie before us,” Pahlavi stated. “The help that the President of the United States promised the brave people of Iran has now arrived… The final victory will still be written by us, the Iranian nation.
The time to return to the streets is near.”The message, delivered amid reports of multiple explosions in the Iranian capital and a major U.S. military operation confirmed by President Trump, positions Pahlavi as a central figure in what many observers now describe as the potential endgame for the 46-year-old theocratic regime.A Direct Call to Arms — and Defection Pahlavi delivered three pointed messages:To Iran’s armed forces, police, and security personnel: “You have sworn to protect Iran and the Iranian people, not the Islamic Republic and its leaders… Join the people and help ensure a stable, secure transition. Otherwise, you will sink with Khamenei’s wrecked ship.”
To President Trump: Praise for the Iranian people’s two-month defiance against “savage repression,” coupled with a plea for “maximum possible caution” to protect civilian lives. “The noble people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world.”
To Iranians inside the country: Stay home and safe for now, but prepare. “When the right moment comes — which I will announce precisely through social media, satellite channels, or radio if needed — return to the streets for the final action.”
Pahlavi closed with a promise: “We are very close to final victory. I want to be among you as soon as possible to reclaim and rebuild Iran together. Long live Iran.”Market-Moving Implications for Stakeholders The timing could hardly be more consequential for global business and investment circles.Energy Markets: Short-term disruption risks are high, with Iranian crude exports and Strait of Hormuz transit under immediate threat. Yet a post-regime scenario — widely discussed in trading rooms today — could see U.S. and European sanctions lifted within months, potentially flooding markets with Iranian oil and gas while opening multibillion-dollar upstream and LNG opportunities.
Reconstruction & Infrastructure: A stable transition led by pro-Western democratic forces would create one of the largest greenfield investment plays of the decade — from power plants and ports to telecoms, automotive, and consumer goods. Western and Gulf capital are already positioning.
Geopolitical Risk Premium: While escalation with Iranian proxies remains a concern, successful regime change would dramatically reduce threats to shipping lanes, regional allies, and global supply chains — a net positive for insurers, shippers, and multinational corporates with Middle East exposure.
Pahlavi, long an advocate for secular democracy and a return to Iran’s pre-1979 constitutional traditions, has consistently positioned himself as a unifying figure capable of steering a peaceful handover. His explicit call for military defections and disciplined street action suggests a coordinated strategy to minimize chaos and accelerate collapse.As explosions continue to echo across Tehran and President Trump signals an expansive campaign, the world is watching whether this marks the beginning of the end for the Islamic Republic — and the birth of a new, open Iranian economy.Stakeholders Magazine will provide ongoing coverage, including exclusive analysis of investment scenarios, sanction-relief timelines, and sector-specific opportunities as events unfold.
