Iran's Crown Prince plans to return home and JOIN protesters as he demands: 'Bring the Islamic Republic to its knees!'

In a post on social media, Mr Pahlavi said: "I too am preparing to return to the homeland so that at the time of our national revolution's victory, I can be beside you, the great nation of Iran. I believe that day is very near."

Protests in Iran have been ongoing for around two weeks, sparked by an economic crisis, and spread to over 280 locations across 21 of the country's 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Forty two people, including two Iranian security force members, are said to have died, while over 2,000 have been detained.

In a strong message to those who have taken to the streets, Mr Pahlavi said: "With your courage and steadfastness, you have earned the admiration of the world.

"Your renewed and magnificent presence in the streets across Iran on Friday evening was a resounding response to the threats of the treacherous and criminal leader of the Islamic Republic.

"I am certain that he has seen these images from his hiding place and trembled in fear.

"Now, with your decisive response to the first call, I am certain that by making our street presence more targeted, and at the same time, by cutting off the financial lifelines, we will completely bring the Islamic Republic and its worn-out and fragile repression apparatus to its knees."

Mr Pahlavi was forced into exile while undergoing fighter pilot training in the US during the 1979 revolution in Iran that ultimately booted his father, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, from control.

The Islamist revolution saw then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini install a Shia theocracy.

Now, the economy has been struggling with an annual inflation rate of 40 per cent, while in September 2025, the US reimposed sanctions on the country due to their nuclear program.

Iran maintains its nuclear energy programme is entirely peaceful and claims it has not tried to build a nuclear bomb.

With protests showing no sign of slowing down, Mr Pahlavi, who seeks to restore Iran's monarchy peacefully, encouraged strikes in key industrial sectors.

"I invite workers and employees in key sectors of the economy, especially transportation, oil, gas, and energy, to begin the nationwide strike," he wrote.

"Also, I ask all of you today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday (January 10 and 11), this time, from 6pm, to come to the streets with flags, images, and national symbols and claim public spaces as your own.

"Our goal is no longer merely to come to the streets; the goal is to prepare for seizing the centres of cities and holding them.

"To achieve this goal, move toward the more central parts of the cities from different routes as much as possible and connect separate crowds.

"At the same time, prepare now to stay in the streets and gather the necessary supplies.

"To the youth of Iran's Immortal Guard, and all armed and security forces who have joined the national cooperation platform, I say: Slow down and disrupt the repression machine even more so that on the appointed day, we can completely disable it."

Protests continue to intensify, leading to an enforced nationwide internet blackout, which activists say is aimed at limiting the spread of protest footage and masking the scale of the crackdown - something Supreme Leader Khamenei has vowed to do.

Hundreds are said to have been injured in clashes with the police so far.

In one instance, in Malekshahi, protesters were met with gunfire from national security forces when gathered outside of a base run by the revolutionary guards - this quickly became known as "Bloody Sunday".

Despite the nationwide blackout, some footage has been seen online and has led to US President Donald Trump responding on social media, warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States "will come to their rescue," adding: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

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