Exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi said on Tuesday the death toll from unrest in Iran has surged in recent days and called on the international community, including the United States, to provide meaningful support to protesters facing what he described as deadly force from authorities.
“The sad news is that we have had more casualties in the last two days — four times the number of people who were dead as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attack. What we get so far is at least, plus 12,000. It might be more, but that’s the minimum number we know have been killed,” Pahlavi told Fox News with Brett Baier.
“We are talking about using military weapons, AK-47s, armored trucks, to shoot to kill unarmed protesters. Their bodies are being picked up by bulldozers, he added.
Asked if he supports any military action, the prince said this is about saving lives and not aggressive interference.
“When civilians are being murdered and massacred in a war waged against them by their own government, some additional help is needed. I’m not talking about aggression — I’m talking about helping a nation liberate itself,” Pahlavi said.