Paris [France], February 3 (ANI): Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, has urged Iranians abroad and supporters worldwide to take part in street demonstrations on February 14, designating the date the “Global Day of Action in solidarity with Iran’s Lion-and-Sun Revolution.”
In a post on X, Pahlavi listed six demands for the international community: dismantle the regime’s machinery of repression; cut off its financial lifelines; ensure free internet and communications; expel regime diplomats and prosecute its criminals; release all political prisoners; and recognize a transitional government to lead Iran toward democracy.
“The Islamic Republic’s occupying rule has tried to break our nation’s will through massacre and brutal violence. It has failed,” he wrote, adding, “The era of fear is over and era of freedom is near.” He named Munich, Los Angeles and Toronto as major gathering locations and urged supporters unable to travel to demonstrate in their own cities.
His appeal comes amid ongoing anti-government unrest in Iran, which authorities blame on foreign interference. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the protests, saying US President Donald Trump’s “help is on the way” remark encouraged demonstrators. Comparing some protesters to Islamic State terrorists, Khamenei alleged they beheaded and killed innocent people. He described shopkeepers and traders’ actions as valid protest while calling those seeking the regime’s fall “seditionists,” and claimed he had been informed that “CIA & Mossad deployed.”
Amid rising tensions, Trump warned that “big ships” were heading to the region and that “bad things” could happen if a nuclear deal is not reached. “We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close, and in a couple of days, hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump said, adding he hoped negotiations would yield an acceptable outcome.
Tehran signalled cautious optimism about reviving nuclear talks with Washington. Iran said it was reviewing diplomatic initiatives from regional countries to reduce tensions and expected a framework for discussions in the coming days. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed indirect negotiations were continuing, saying regional countries were mediating message exchanges and that several points were being finalised.
Al Jazeera reported Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi may engage with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, though neither side confirmed a meeting. Iran’s state news agency IRNA said Araghchi held phone calls with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Türkiye. Reports suggested President Masoud Pezeshkian had instructed resumption of nuclear discussions, with local media indicating “Iran and the United States will hold talks on the nuclear file.”
These developments follow Trump’s deployment of warships to the Middle East and his call for Tehran to resume nuclear negotiations, which stalled in June after attacks on Iranian facilities. Khamenei warned any attack would spark a “regional war.” The US and EU continue to express concern over Iran’s nuclear activities, which Tehran insists are for civilian purposes. Washington has outlined conditions for resuming talks, including ending uranium enrichment, limiting the missile programme and ceasing support for regional armed groups. Iran has shown willingness to discuss the nuclear issue, while saying missiles and regional alliances are non-negotiable.
The diplomatic push is driven by Iran’s need for sanctions relief amid economic pressure and growing unrest after January’s mass protests. (ANI)
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