Son of the Iranian Shah Reza Pahlavi Meets Head of Samaria Regional Council

Against the backdrop of the widespread unrest in Iran, an especially noteworthy meeting was revealed this morning (Thursday). Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, met with Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah and the crown prince in exile.

Pahlavi is the principal claimant to the Iranian crown, operating from the United States to promote a democratic alternative and a free referendum in Iran. He is widely viewed  in the West as the leading alternative to the ayatollahs’ regime under Ali Khamenei, and as a potential unifying figure for the Iranian people, particularly amid the recent waves of protests.

In a statement, the Samaria Regional Council said: “At the conclusion of the meeting, which was held with the assistance of Minister Gila Gamliel, no additional details are being released regarding its content. However, the parties approved the publication of an official joint photograph. The meeting was described as in-depth, cordial, and of strategic importance, and it extended beyond the time originally allotted.”

This meeting joins a series of diplomatic engagements led by Dagan and the Samaria Regional Council’s foreign relations unit with senior political figures in the U.S., such as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and  Pastor Paula White-Cain, head of the White House Faith Office.  Dagan also recently hosted a tour of Samaria for European Parliament member Reinhold Lopatka, a representative of the European Union’s governing party.

The Exiled Prince

Twelve days have now passed since the current wave of protests erupted in Iran. According to human rights organizations, at least 38 people have been killed so far and more than 2,000 have been arrested. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported this morning (Thursday) that a police officer was stabbed to death during a demonstration near Tehran while “taking part in efforts to regain control over public disturbances.”

Sogand Fakheri, Iran Desk analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, says the current protests in Iran are unlike anything seen before. According to her, there is for the first time a clear and explicit call rallying around a leadership figure – Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi- as a symbol of hope for democratic change. “This is the first time he has declared openly, in English and through the international media, that he is ready to lead,” she said.

In recent days,  Reza Pahlavi has intensified his public involvement in the uprising in Iran.  The exiled prince released a recorded message addressed directly to Iran’s security forces and military personnel, urging them “not to miss this historic opportunity” and to side with the protesters rather than the regime. He also called on the Iranian public to take to the streets—or to protest from their homes—at 8:00 p.m. on consecutive evenings, chanting slogans against the ruling system.

Speaking overnight to Fox News, Pahlavi described the current wave of protests as a significant step toward what he called “a transition from tyranny to a future democracy.” He emphasized that his vision is for a measured and orderly change, achieved through a national referendum and the convening of a constitutional assembly. He said he is “more ready than ever to intervene in Iran” and prepared, if necessary, “for the final struggle” to bring about change.

A Vision of Peace

Many voices from the opposition in Iran have expressed solidarity with the Jewish nation and the hope for an alliance with Israel once the Islamic rulers are removed from power. Scripture teaches us of a future time when all nations will live in peace, a time when swords will be no longer necessary. As Isaiah declares:

“They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, NIV)

This prophetic hope resonates with the aspirations of ordinary Iranians and Israelis alike, all those who long for a day when tyranny is replaced by freedom, when the people of Israel and a future free Iran can stand together in solidarity, united by a shared desire for peace, freedom, and the flourishing of their nations.