Reza Pahlavi Urges Trump to Intervene as Iran Enters Total Communications Blackout

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and son of Iran’s last monarch, issued an urgent appeal on Friday to U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking immediate American intervention to prevent what he warned could become a mass killing of protesters in Iran.

The plea, disseminated widely on social media, comes amid a sweeping nationwide internet and telecommunications blackout imposed by the Islamic Republic.

Pahlavi cautioned that the communications shutdown—described by him as a “digital shroud”—is being used by authorities in Tehran to conceal a violent crackdown on a protest movement that represents the most serious challenge to clerical rule in decades. Addressing Trump as a “man of peace” and a leader who keeps his word, Pahlavi urged swift action to protect demonstrators who, he said, are being targeted beyond the scrutiny of the international community.

Claiming that millions of Iranians responded to his call for mass mobilisation on Thursday night, Pahlavi alleged that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the near-total blackout, with national connectivity reportedly reduced to around one per cent, to enable security forces to act with impunity. He warned that young protesters face imminent danger as the regime seeks to suppress the uprising away from global attention.

The appeal comes as unrest, now entering its second week, has reportedly left at least 62 people dead and more than 2,300 detained. What began in late December 2025 as protests over economic collapse and a sharply devalued rial has since escalated into a broader political revolt, with demonstrators chanting “Death to the Dictator” and openly calling for the restoration of the monarchy.

While Pahlavi did not outline specific measures he expects from Washington, his message appeared to reference President Trump’s earlier warnings that the Iranian leadership would face severe consequences if peaceful protesters were met with lethal force. Trump has repeatedly stated that the regime would be hit “very, very hard” under such circumstances.

The White House, however, has adopted a cautious stance. In recent remarks, President Trump praised the courage of the Iranian people but said it would be “premature” to formally engage with or endorse a particular opposition figure before the movement’s trajectory becomes clearer.

Tehran, for its part, has accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest, describing the protests as acts of “vandalism” and warning of “decisive and maximum” punishment for those it brands as saboteurs. As the communications blackout persists, Pahlavi’s appeal underscores growing international concern over a country edging closer to a potentially violent confrontation.