Separation between state and religion, peace and cooperation with Israel, guaranteeing the rights of all Iranians - this is how Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, sees the future of the country.
"This is a moment like an earthquake" - this is how the son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, commented on the death of Ali Khamenei. "This is the moment, this is our chance", he added in an exclusive interview for the "60 Minutes" program on CBS.
According to Pahlavi, there have never been "atrocities" like those under the current regime in Iran's history. "All this is because of Khamenei's insistence on keeping himself and his mafia regime in power at the expense of the Iranian people."
Pahlavi is ready to head a transitional government
The 65-year-old Iranian, who lives in exile in the United States, confirmed that he has no intention of being king or president of the country, but is ready to head a transitional government.
During the protests in recent months, especially among Iranian communities abroad, chants of "Long live the Shah!" have often been heard. At the same time, Pahlavi's figure is contested in Iran. His father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ruled the country for nearly four decades until 1979. He is accused of repression and oppression of the opposition. His reign ended with the Islamic Revolution, which brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power.
His son, however, does not think the Shah's biography is a problem for his image. "I think part of the reason people believe me is because they can't connect me in any way to the Islamic Revolution and this regime," he told CBS.
According to Pahlavi, the regime in Tehran would have fallen without foreign intervention, but it catalyzed the process. "For us, this is liberation. This is a humanitarian intervention that saves lives."
What are Pahlavi's goals?
In the interview, the son of the last Shah points to four main priorities of the future government when the mullahs' regime falls - guaranteeing territorial integrity, separation of state and religion - "a necessary condition for democracy", equality before the law by guaranteeing the rights of all Iranian citizens, and democratic elections.
He says that peace with Israel is also part of the opposition's goals. "In modern history, Iran gave refuge to Jews who were fleeing the Nazis during World War II." For him, the strategic partnership with Israel is key for the country.
Reza Pahlavi thanked Donald Trump for the intervention. "He will go down in the annals of Iranian history as the most celebrated foreign leader who changed the game and the world."
The Shah's son's confidence that the regime in Tehran will fall is not shared by all experts. Iran is currently governed by an interim council, created after Khamenei's death, which consists of President Massoud Pezeshkian, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who heads the judiciary, and Alireza Arafi of the Guardian Council.