Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran and son of the country’s last shah, has issued a bold call for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic’s leadership to “step down and face justice,” as tensions in Iran reach a boiling point amid ongoing military strikes and domestic unrest.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris on June 23, Pahlavi widely referred to by his supporters as the Crown Prince claimed that the foundations of the Islamic Republic were “shaking,” likening the current moment to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

“The military is fractured. The people are united. The foundations of this 46-year tyranny are shaking,” he said. “This is our Berlin Wall moment. But like all moments of great change, it comes with great danger.”

Pahlavi, 64, was heir to the Peacock Throne before the Pahlavi dynasty was ousted during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He has lived in exile in the United States for decades but remains an influential figure among segments of the Iranian diaspora.

He claimed without offering concrete evidence that he had received credible reports that Khamenei and other regime officials were preparing to flee Iran as the United States joined Israel’s bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities.

In a direct message to Khamenei, Pahlavi urged: “Step down, and if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law.”

He also announced the creation of a “secure platform” to support coordination among dissidents and regime opponents within Iran, promising it would serve as a foundation for a peaceful and democratic transition.

While Pahlavi does not hold formal political office, his appearance marks one of the strongest public appeals by an exiled Iranian figure during the current crisis, which has seen increasing civilian casualties and regional instability.

The Islamic Republic has not responded publicly to Pahlavi’s remarks.