Exiled Leader Reza Pahlavi Vows Return to Iran Amidst Widespread Protests

• Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's late shah, announced his intention to return to Iran to lead ongoing protests, framing the conflict as "occupation and liberation."
• Living in exile in the Washington area, Pahlavi has positioned himself as a key opposition leader against the cleric-run state.
• The protests, initially sparked by economic hardship, have escalated into a nationwide challenge to clerical rule, marking the deadliest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• Reports indicate thousands of deaths, including security forces and protesters, with figures disputed between Iranian officials and rights groups.
• International figures like U.S. President Donald Trump have called for new leadership in Iran, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blames foreign adversaries for the unrest.

Why It Matters: Exiled leader Reza Pahlavi pledges to return to Iran to lead protests, intensifying the challenge to clerical rule.