Washington

Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has praised the courage of Iranians participating in the protest movement known as the Lion and Sun Revolution, calling their actions an example of extraordinary heroism.

The movement, which emerged during 2025–26, is largely driven by members of the Iranian diaspora and uses Iran’s pre-1979 national flag featuring the lion and sun emblem as a symbol of opposition to the ruling Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an interview with the programme 60 Minutes on CBS News, Pahlavi recalled a particular incident that he said had become a powerful symbol of the movement.

“This is the ultimate praise of heroism,” he said, referring to a firefighter who was killed while carrying an injured protester who had been shot in the street. “That image is a symbol for me.”

Pahlavi, who has been living in exile, has repeatedly called for a transition toward a secular democratic system in Iran as unrest and geopolitical tensions continue in the region.

Call to Iran’s military

Following the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts, Pahlavi urged members of the country’s armed forces to side with the public rather than the ruling establishment.

In a post on X, he appealed directly to soldiers and officers, asking them to lay down their arms and support the people.

“To Iran’s military: join the people. Those who stand with them now will have a place in a free Iran,” he said.

The exiled crown prince also claimed that many Iranians support efforts by the United States and Israel to weaken the country’s security apparatus, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He further accused the current leadership of placing civilians at risk by using them as “human shields”, adding that protecting civilians and national infrastructure should remain a priority.

New Supreme Leader appointed

The developments come after the Assembly of Experts formally announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic following the Iranian Revolution.

Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of the late Ali Khamenei, who led the country for nearly four decades.

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His appointment comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following the killing of the 86-year-old Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28, which also reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials.