Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi Calls Iran Regime a ‘Wounded Beast’ Dominated by IRGC

12/05/2026

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi Calls Iran Regime a ‘Wounded Beast’ Dominated by IRGC

WASHINGTON, May 12: Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi described the Islamic Republic as a “wounded beast” and urged the international community not to miss the opportunity to bring an end to the current system, saying the country is effectively controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Speaking at Politico’s Security Summit on Tuesday, Pahlavi warned Western governments against seeking agreements with so-called moderate figures within the Iranian establishment, arguing that all factions ultimately work to preserve the regime.

“You’re falling back into the same trap that the regime has laid out for decades,” Pahlavi said, adding that supposedly moderate or manageable elements within the system “don’t truly exist.”

He claimed the Islamic Republic has evolved into “a de facto paramilitary dictatorship,” with the Revolutionary Guards controlling the country’s political and security apparatus.

Pahlavi said Tehran’s weakened position presents a rare opportunity for change. “Now that we have a wounded beast, it’s not an opportunity that we should let go. It’s an opportunity to finish the job and get it over with,” he said.

The exiled prince added that while diplomacy should still be pursued, the nature of the Iranian regime raises doubts about whether it can coexist with democratic nations.

Pahlavi also accused Tehran of maintaining proxy networks and sleeper cells beyond the Middle East, including in Europe and the United States.