As Israel ponders a possible counter-retaliation against Iran, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, stated in a Fox News interview that the current Iranian state is the primary obstacle to peace in the region.
“The end of this regime will mean an end to all these problems,” Pahlavi told host Maria Bartiromo in the 7-minute interview on Sunday Morning Futures.
Pahlavi further expressed optimism that once the Islamic Republic is removed, there could be peaceful relations between Iran and Israel.
He echoed the sentiment expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a message to the Iranian people, emphasizing that Iranians and Israelis could coexist harmoniously.
Israel is anticipated to retaliate against Iran following last week's attack, in which Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles that were mostly intercepted by Israeli defense systems. This escalation was a response to Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Lebanon, marking a significant point of tension in the ongoing conflict.
As speculation continues over what targets Israel may hit in Iran, Bartiromo stated she did not want to ask Pahlavi about what Israel should strike, saying that “I know you're not going to agree to any bombing of the Iranian people, but assess the potential that Iran has in terms of that oil.”
“Well, if you're talking overall about how much money the regime depends on to maintain its own war machine, finance its nuclear program, pay wages to their hired help... they cannot sustain that kind of expenditure, especially if they are short on revenue,” Pahlavi argued, highlighting the state’s economic vulnerabilities.
He continued to explain that if Iran provoked further escalation, it would lead to significant economic consequences for the nation, potentially impacting its capacity to wage war – saying that the Islamic Republic has already shot itself in the foot and that the continued escalation is a “lose-lose” situation for Tehran.
“If they provoke more escalation... it will create an incredible economic shock to the nation that will not be advantageous even to the regime itself,” Pahlavi said.
Monday marked a year since Israel began its war on Hamas, when militants stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,000 civilians and taking over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel has carried out multiple targeted assassinations aimed at Tehran's proxy forces in the region. The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas leader, in Tehran was believed to be part of the reason for clerical state missile response this month.
The son of Iran’s last ruling monarch argued that as the region grapples with several volatile issues, a significant opportunity exists at this moment, not just for the US regional allies but for the entire world to recognize that "a change of regime in Iran will put an end to all of these problems."
As the host noted that the upcoming US presidential election could play a pivotal role in this context, Pahlavi reiterated his longstanding stance that the international community, particularly the US and Europe, should prioritize supporting the Iranian people.
In that vein, Pahlavi argued that oil sanctions on Iran have not been effectively enforced, allowing cash to flow instead to the regime’s proxy allies.
“The Iranian people have clearly demonstrated that this regime has nothing to do with their aspirations…We hope that the world this time stands with us as opposed to continue trying to negotiate deals with a regime that cannot be trusted,” Pahlavi said.