Iranians Want End to ‘Reign of Chaos,’ Reza Pahlavi Thanks US President for Support
Iran’s former crown prince says protesters want an end to decades of repression as Tehran warns against foreign intervention
Iran, Dec 03: Iran’s former crown prince Reza Pahlavi has thanked US President Donald Trump for voicing support for the Iranian people, saying the message has boosted morale among protesters demanding political and economic change in the country.
In a post on X, Pahlavi said Iranians were seeking an end to what he described as “decades of repression” and hoped to rebuild relations with the United States to restore peace and stability in the region.
“President Trump, thank you for your strong leadership and support of my compatriots,” Pahlavi wrote. “This warning you have issued to the criminal leaders of the Islamic Republic gives my people greater strength and hope—as they risk their lives to end this regime’s 46-year reign of chaos and terror.”
He added that Iranians had tasked him with seeking renewed ties with Washington, similar to relations that existed before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “I have the plan for a stable transition for Iran and the support of my people to get it done. With your leadership of the free world, we can leave a legacy of lasting peace,” he said.
Earlier, President Trump said the United States was “locked and loaded” to respond if Iranian authorities used violence against peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over worsening economic conditions spread across several provinces in Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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.”
Protests have erupted across Iran amid rising prices and economic hardship, with some demonstrations reportedly turning violent. According to CNN, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several areas.
Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that protesters hurled stones at police and set vehicles on fire, alleging that armed “disturbers” exploited the gatherings. Without providing evidence, the outlet claimed authorities later seized firearms from several individuals.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials strongly rebuked Trump and Israel’s Foreign Ministry for comments on the unrest, warning that any foreign interference in Iran’s internal affairs would draw a “regrettable response.”
Ali Shamkhani, political adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s representative on the Defence Council, said Iran’s national security was a “red line” and not open to external intervention.
In a post on X, Shamkhani criticised Trump’s remarks, stating that Iranians were “well familiar” with past US military interventions in the region. “Every hand of intervention that approaches Iranian security with excuses will be cut off with a regrettable response before it arrives,” he said, adding that national security was “not the subject of adventurous tweets.”
