Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect

“Sources close to Pahlavi’s network indicate that the communications include expressions of loyalty to his mission to lead a transition toward democracy in the event of the regime’s collapse. The contacts have reportedly come from individuals within the regular army, the Republican Guard, police forces and intelligence services. The outreach follows recent Israeli air strikes inside Iran, which reportedly damaged key installations and killed senior military figures—events that Pahlavi described as “Khamenei’s war,” rather than Iran’s war. He has positioned himself not as a monarch seeking restoration, but as a civilian figure aiming to guide a democratic transition led by...