Exiled prince says Iran’s ruling system is on the verge of collapse
Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi said on Thursday his country's ruling system is “on the verge of collapse” and that the authorities’ violent crackdown is a “last-gasp effort to intimidate,” according to an interview with The Economist.
Pahlavi emphasized civil disobedience and non-violence but stressed that Iranians have the right to defend themselves when attacked.
“Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had declared war on the Iranian people a long time ago,” Pahlavi said, calling the Islamic Republic "a domestic enemy".
He presented himself as a transitional figure, saying he would act as a “neutral arbiter” if the current system falls.
