Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi assured protesters in the ongoing demonstrations against the government that American help was coming while also urging Iran’s army to abandon the regime and join the opposition in a statement released on Wednesday morning.
“My compatriots,” Pahlavi began in his statement, posted to X/Twitter. “By now, you have probably heard the message from the President of the United States. Help is on the way. Continue the fight, as you have done so far.”
He went on to state that there was “a sea of blood” between the Iranian people and the regime, which he asserted would be “prosecuted” for their actions. He then called for Iran’s army to cease defending the country’s leadership.
Pahlavi urges Iran's army to abandon regime, join protesters
“But I also have a special message for members of the Army,” he concluded. “You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic. You have a duty to protect the lives of your compatriots. You do not have much time. Join them as soon as possible.”
The crown prince’s message comes as official confirmations of the death toll from the protests cross 2,000.
On Tuesday, an Iranian official told The New York Times that around 3,000 people had died. The following morning, US-based Iranian rights group HRANA confirmed that at least 2,403 protesters had been killed.
Pahlavi’s assurance that US help was “on the way” follows US President Donald Trump's statement on Tuesday on his Truth Social platform.
The president also noted that he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the regime ceased its violent crackdown on protesters.
That day, the US told its citizens to immediately leave Iran via a notice released by its virtual embassy in Tehran.
“US citizens should leave Iran now. Consider departing Iran by land to Turkiye or Armenia, if safe to do so," the notice said.
French foreign minister: Iran crackdown could be most violent in its contemporary history
Also speaking on Iran's crackdown on demonstrations across the country, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that they were the most violent in the country's contemporary history.
"What we suspect is that this is the most violent repression in Iran's contemporary history and that it must absolutely stop," Barrot said.
Reuters contributed to this report