A joint U.S.-Israel operation left Iran’s exiled crown prince seeing “final victory” in sight as he called for the people living under the Islamist regime to remain ready for further instructions.
“Moments of destiny lie ahead of us.”
In the wake of attempts at negotiation in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, reports broke overnight that strikes were launched against Iran, including targets like the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the residence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and an intelligence facility.
While President Donald Trump issued a statement about the “major combat operations in Iran” dubbed Operation Epic Fury, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the combined effort to “remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran” in what the Jewish State called Operation Roaring Lion, Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi turned his attention to his fellow Iranians as he called for unity to “help bring about a stable and secure transition,” or face going “down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime.”
In a video statement posted to X, the son of the last shah of Iran began his message to his “dear compatriots, Moments of destiny lie ahead of us.”
“The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived. This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter–not the country and great nation of Iran,” said Pahlavi. “But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near.”
هممیهنان عزیزم،
لحظاتی سرنوشتساز پیشِ روی ماست.
کمکی که رئیسجمهور ایالات متحده به مردم شجاع ایران وعده داده بود، اکنون رسیده است. این یک مداخله بشردوستانه است؛ و هدف آن، جمهوری اسلامی، دستگاه سرکوب و ماشین کشتار آن است؛ نه کشور و ملت بزرگ ایران.
اما، با وجود رسیدن این کمک،… pic.twitter.com/kRiamgeCpS
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) February 28, 2026
“Now that the Islamic Republic is collapsing, my message to the country’s military, police, and security forces is clear: You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian people–not the Islamic Republic and its leaders,” he went on as forces had spent weeks often fatally suppressing protests against the regime. “Your duty is to defend the people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime.”
In closing out a more than eight minute address reaffirming the vital importance that Iran be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon and the intent to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground … annihilate their navy … [and] ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces …,” Trump had offered his own words to the people of Iran.
He stated, “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want, so let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force.
“Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close, within your reach,” added the president. “This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”
President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026
Turning his attention toward Trump, Pahlavi had said, “The noble people of Iran, despite the savage repression and massacres of this regime, stood firm with courage for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history.”
Meanwhile, the prince reinforced the need for Iranians to remain in their homes for the time being. “Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time–which I will announce to you precisely–you can return to the streets for the final action.”
“We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran,” concluded Pahlavi.
Lawmakers likewise began sounding off on the operation in the early hours of Saturday as reports suggested the strikes would continue for days. No casualties had been reported after an Iranian counterstrike had impacted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
Operation Epic Fury.
President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.
God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) February 28, 2026
As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare
Well done, Mr. President.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 28, 2026
Please join me in holding our brave service members and their families in prayer, as well as the innocent people of Iran and every other person involved right now.
The price of peace is a heavy burden.
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 28, 2026
May God bless the Armed Forces of the United States and the long-suffering people of Iran. pic.twitter.com/aLbZRbNlQu
— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) February 28, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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