Son of Shah: ‘Iran Will Recognize Israel’ After Ouster Islamic Rulers; Death Toll Protests Passes 2,500 (VIDEO)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iran’s exiled crown prince pledged Thursday that a “free Iran” would immediately recognize Israel if protesters manage to topple the Islamic Republic’s regime.

Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, spoke after the death toll from nationwide protests in Iran surpassed 2,500, and as Iranians made phone calls abroad for the first time in days after authorities severed communications in a crackdown.

The number of dead climbed to at least 2,571 early Wednesday, reported the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. That figure dwarfs the death toll from any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, observers said.

However, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, stressed that Iran will eventually “rise again from [the] ashes” as a free and democratic nation without supporting anti-Israel terror troops.

After “the regime in Iran falls, and free Iran rises,” the country would immediately recognize Israel, normalize US relations, and aim to broaden the Abraham Accords into the “Cyrus Accords” to unite Iran, Israel, and the larger Arab world, he stressed.

“Relations with the United States will be normalized, and our friendship with America and her people will be restored,” he said in a video posted to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The State of Israel will be recognized immediately. We will pursue the expansion of the Abraham Accords into the Cyrus accords bringing together a free Iran, Israel, and the Arab world.”

NEW CHAPTER TO BE WRITTEN

He added that “A new chapter will begin, grounded in mutual recognition, sovereignty, and national interest. In energy, Iran holds some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world. A free Iran will become a reliable energy supplier to the free world.”

“To all of our friends around the world, under the yoke of the Islamic Republic, Iran is identified in your minds with terrorism, extremism, and poverty. The real Iran is a different Iran, a beautiful, peace-loving, and flourishing Iran. It is the Iran that existed before the Islamic Republic, and it is the Iran that will rise again from its ashes the day the Islamic Republic falls,” he stressed.

He also said that “In security and foreign policy, Iran’s nuclear military program will end. Support for terrorist groups will cease immediately. A free Iran will work with regional and global partners to confront terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and extremist Islamism.”

He explained that “Iran will act as a friend and a stabilizing force in the region, and it will be a responsible partner in global security. A free Iran will be a force for peace, for prosperity, and for partnership.”

His remarks came as Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for hours without explanation early Thursday as tensions remained high with the United States over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump had told the protesters that “help is on the way” and threatened that intervention would occur if the killing continued.

With pressure mounting, Iran’s judiciary said Erfan Soltani has not been sentenced to death, according to Iranian state media. Soltani, 26, was the first Iranian protester given a death sentence since the current unrest began. His family said earlier that they had been told his execution had been postponed.

PAHLAVI SEEN AS UNIFYING FORCE

While his nation faces turmoil, Reza Pahlavi is seen by his supporters as a unifying force.

Yet President Trump said on Wednesday that the Iranian opposition “seems very nice,” but expressed uncertainty over whether the crown prince would be able to muster enough support within Iran to take over eventually.

Born on October 31, 1960, in Tehran, he is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Iran’s last monarch, and Farah Pahlavi.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the monarchy, Reza Pahlavi became crown prince in exile.

The U.S.-educated crown prince says he does not seek to restore an absolute monarchy and that Iranians must choose any future system in a free vote.

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