Ex-Shah’s son criticises Trump over "mixed signals" on Iran

Exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged U.S. President Donald Trump to “finish the job” of toppling Iran’s Islamist regime, criticising Washington for sending what he described as contradictory signals during ongoing tensions with Tehran.

Speaking at the POLITICO Security Summit, Pahlavi said continued negotiations and ceasefire efforts risked strengthening the Iranian leadership at a time when it was vulnerable.

“Now that you have a wounded beast, this is not an opportunity that you should let go to finish the job and get it over with,” Pahlavi said.

The comments came as the United States and Iran exchanged proposals aimed at establishing a long-term peace process following a fragile ceasefire.

Pahlavi, who has generally backed Trump, argued that the U.S. and Israel should continue strikes against Iranian targets until citizens inside Iran feel empowered to rise up against the government.

By pursuing both military pressure and diplomacy, Trump was sending “mixed signals” that could ultimately entrench the regime, Pahlavi said.

“Should diplomacy be given a chance? Of course it should,” he said. “But then again … we know by now that in its DNA, [the regime] is incapable of coming to terms with coexistence with a free democratic [society]. It has as a mission to export an ideology.”

Pahlavi also criticised Trump’s past threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure and references to destroying Iranian “civilisation,” saying such rhetoric confused ordinary Iranians.

“Are you here to liberate us or further hurt us?” Pahlavi said Iranian citizens could ask themselves.

The son of Iran’s last shah, who was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution, has lived in exile in the United States since 1979 and has increasingly aligned himself with Republican figures and pro-Israel groups advocating tougher measures against Tehran.

Pahlavi said many Iranians viewed the confrontation with the regime positively.

“The majority of the Iranian people look at this as a liberation campaign,” he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev