Overview
- Pahlavi announced his intention in a video posted on X, declaring "I will return" as the clip displayed the phrase "This is the last battle."
- He asserted that 12,000 people were killed within 48 hours of mass demonstrations, a claim that currently cannot be independently verified.
- No date was provided for a comeback, and it remains unclear whether Iranian authorities would allow him to enter or what legal or political repercussions he might face.
- The US-based son of Iran's last shah has built a large following online and asserted a leadership role from abroad, though his standing within the opposition is disputed.
- Recent street protests featured chants of "Long live the king," yet his actual influence inside Iran is difficult to assess given the fragmented opposition and restricted reporting.