Rama Krishna Sangem
Will Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi replace Khamenei in Iran? On US President Donald Trump can answer this question. Now that a weak ceasefire is in place between Iran and Israel, attention of the West Asia and other major countries in the world turned to another question – what next? Is Trump thinking of replacing present Iranian regime led by Ali Khamenei with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of former King of Iran Shah Mohammed Pahlavi, dethroned in 1979?
Israel and some in the Gulf want a regime change – meaning removal of Islamic supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his Revolutionary Guard Corps. But Khamenei is ready to cooperate with the US and even enter a temporary truce wi9th Israel. So, his removal is not on top of priorities of Trump.
Still, social media for the last couple of days, especially after American B2 bombers raided Iran’s nuclear sites, is abuzz with posts against Khamenei and his Islamic regime. Change this regime – is their slogan and the chorus is getting louder by the day. They, mostly Iranians in exile, in America and Europe, want and end of Khamenei regime and think now is the best time for that. They want a democratic, secular and somewhat liberal political system in Iran.
Hundreds of stories are doing rounds how present Iranian regime of Islamic theocratic leadership is ruling the country with iron hand – handing out brutal punishments to men and women – like summary trials, public hangings and indiscriminate imprisonments etc. Now, there is no freedom for women in Iran to live with dignity on their own. Men too should obey the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps laws and norms, otherwise, they have no place in the country, say these dissidents of Iran.
Reza, 64, rallying force to dissidents
These dissidents mostly are backing 64 years old Reza Pahlavi (born in October 1960) to lead a new political system in Iran. He is in exile for the last 45 years since his father King of Iran was thrown out of power in Iran. Reza, elder son of late Shah first went to Egypt and then to the UK and now is in America. Reza is active in politics, he has his own political party and some followers across the globe. He delivers lectures and media interviews, calling for end of Ali Khamenei’s IRGC’s oppressive regime.
Reza is liked by the Western countries. He is liked by even Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu. Reza visited Israel sometime back and supported the world’s only Jewish state’s right to existence. Reza is even liked by the Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. These Gulf countries are shit scared of a fundamentalist Iranian regime. They want a suave and liberal Reza Pahlavi to lead Iran. They all look at President Trump for his decision.
There are different opinions in the Trump camp. Some feel it is essential to bring in a regime change in Iran and replace Ali Khamenei with Reza Pahlavi immediately. But, others feel Khamenei can be continued for sometime and then allow Iranian people to decide on their future. The US as of now doesn’t want to create another Iraq in the West Asia, where American forces are needed to keep the rogue rebels from taking control of the country.
These things will take time to settle. A lot depends on how Trump will move forward to solve the Israel- Iran- Palestine issue. The issue now is not just the nuclear program of Iran, it is much more than that. Establishing an amenable and cooperative regime in Iran will be the long term interest of the US. Trump will have a handful of business to accomplish in Iran in the coming days. Reza Pahlavi need to wait and watch for what fate awaits him!
