The Iranian exile leader, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, delivered on Saturday 15 February a widely discussed speech during the Munich Security Conference (MSC), which takes place 14–16 February. The speech is described as his most offensive international appearance since the protests in Iran began in December 2025.
Pahlavi asserted that the Islamic Republic is heading towards collapse; it is facing its «most existential moment since 1979». He pointed to signs of weakness such as economic breakdown, massive corruption, internal divisions within the IRGC, and the fact that the regime had to resort to extreme violence to suppress the January protests.
Regime change, not reform
He emphasised that the Iranian majority no longer accepts the theocracy:
– This is no longer a struggle between reformists and hardliners within the regime – it is the people against the regime.
Pahlavi rejected the idea of gradual reforms or «dialogue» with the current leadership. He reiterated his demand for a peaceful transition governed by the people, to a secular, democratic and non-nuclear Iran:
– The Iranian people are not asking for sympathy, we demand our freedom. Legitimacy can only come from the people, and the Iranian people have spoken. Now the world must choose between the Iranian people or its oppressors. A free Iran will be a pillar of stability, peace and co-operation in the Middle East.
He called on Western countries to support Iranian dissidents and independent media, impose targeted sanctions on the IRGC leaders and their economic networks. To conduct negotiations with the regime solely concerning the nuclear programme, he described as a legitimisation of the regime.
Pahlavi asserted that the regime is closer than ever to a nuclear weapon, and warned that an uncontrolled collapse may entail «the worst scenario» – the proliferation of nuclear technology and chaos that destabilises the entire region.
BREAKING | Munich Security Conference 2026 🚨
At the Munich Security Conference 2026, King Reza Pahlavi delivered a powerful and historic message to the world:
“The Iranian people are not asking for sympathy we are demanding our freedom.”
“Legitimacy comes from the people and… pic.twitter.com/yweZRs4k02
— Martin (@Martin_Sedi) February 13, 2026
Pahlavi received a standing ovation particularly from the Ukrainian, Israeli and American delegations, while state Iranian media described him as a «traitor» and a «Zionist agent». On X and Telegram, exile-Iranian activists hailed the speech as «historic» and «the strongest signal ever from a unifying figure».