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Reza Pahlavi calls on Trump to ‘help’ Iranian people

February 14, 2026 5 min read International Relations GS2 (International Relations Effect of Policies of Developed Countries)
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What Happened

  • Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah (Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, deposed in 1979), called on US President Trump to "help" the Iranian people at the Munich Security Conference, describing it as a request for "humanitarian intervention to prevent more innocent lives being killed."
  • President Trump stated on February 13 that a change of government in Iran would be "the best thing that could happen," while confirming the deployment of a second aircraft carrier — the USS Gerald R. Ford — to join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group already in the Arabian Sea.
  • The military build-up occurs alongside ongoing diplomatic tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional influence.
  • Trump did not specify who should replace the current Iranian government, stating only that "there are people" who could lead.

Static Topic Bridges

Iran Nuclear Programme and the JCPOA Framework

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in July 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, plus Germany), was a landmark arms control agreement that placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. The US withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent breaching of enrichment limits have left the agreement effectively defunct.

  • JCPOA (July 14, 2015): Iran agreed to reduce its low-enriched uranium stockpile by 97% (from 10,000 kg to 300 kg), limit enrichment to 3.67% (civilian-grade, not weapons-grade at 90%+), and accept enhanced IAEA monitoring.
  • In exchange, Iran received relief from nuclear-related sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council (Resolutions 2231), the EU, and the US.
  • US withdrawal: May 8, 2018 — President Trump withdrew citing Iran's missile programme, regional activities, and "sunset clauses" in the agreement.
  • Post-withdrawal escalation: Iran breached the 300 kg stockpile limit in July 2019 and began enriching uranium to 60% purity in April 2021 — significantly above the JCPOA's 3.67% cap but below weapons-grade (90%).
  • The IAEA has confirmed Iran possesses enough enriched uranium (if further enriched) for multiple nuclear weapons, though Iran maintains its programme is exclusively peaceful.
  • NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968): Iran is a signatory (ratified 1970) and is obligated not to develop nuclear weapons under Article II.

Connection to this news: The current US military build-up and regime change rhetoric occur against the backdrop of a collapsed JCPOA, Iran's advanced enrichment capabilities, and the absence of any diplomatic framework for nuclear de-escalation.

India-Iran Relations and Strategic Interests

India maintains a nuanced relationship with Iran, balancing energy security, strategic connectivity (Chabahar port), and cultural ties against US sanctions pressure. The current US posture towards Iran directly impacts India's ability to maintain this balance.

  • Chabahar Port: India signed a 10-year agreement (May 2024) to develop and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar — India's only foreign port project. Chabahar is critical for accessing Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
  • India-Iran energy ties: India was Iran's second-largest oil customer before US sanctions (importing approximately 500,000 barrels/day in 2018). India reduced imports to near-zero after the US re-imposed sanctions in November 2018, waiving only briefly in 2019.
  • The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): A 7,200 km multi-modal route connecting India (Mumbai) to Russia (St. Petersburg) via Iran — Chabahar port and the Iranian rail network are key segments.
  • India voted against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors in 2005 and 2006, straining relations, but has generally avoided taking sides in the US-Iran confrontation.
  • The India-US interim trade deal's condition on ceasing Russian oil purchases could set a precedent for similar conditionality on Iran trade.

Connection to this news: Escalating US pressure on Iran creates a dilemma for India: protecting the Chabahar investment and INSTC connectivity while avoiding secondary sanctions that could affect Indian entities operating in Iran.

Iranian Revolution (1979) and the Pahlavi Dynasty

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 is one of the defining events of 20th-century West Asian history. The overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini fundamentally reshaped the region's geopolitical landscape.

  • The Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran from 1925 to 1979 — Reza Shah (1925-1941) and his son Mohammad Reza Shah (1941-1979).
  • The Islamic Revolution (January-February 1979): Mass protests against the Shah's authoritarian rule, Westernisation policies, and SAVAK secret police led to his exile on January 16, 1979; Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile on February 1, 1979.
  • The Iran hostage crisis (November 1979 — January 1981): 52 American diplomats held for 444 days at the US Embassy in Tehran — the foundational event in US-Iran antagonism.
  • Reza Pahlavi (born 1960): Crown Prince and eldest son of the last Shah; has lived in exile since 1979, primarily in the United States; advocates for a secular, democratic Iran through non-violent transition.
  • The 1979 revolution led to Iran's transformation from a US ally to its primary adversary in West Asia, reshaping alliances (Saudi Arabia-US alignment, Iran-Syria-Hezbollah axis).

Connection to this news: Reza Pahlavi's public appeal to Trump represents a continuation of the exiled opposition's decades-long effort to secure Western support for regime change, but the fractured nature of Iran's exile opposition makes any coordinated transition scenario uncertain.

Key Facts & Data

  • JCPOA signed: July 14, 2015; US withdrew: May 8, 2018
  • Iran's current enrichment level: up to 60% (vs JCPOA limit of 3.67%; weapons-grade is 90%+)
  • P5+1: US, UK, France, Russia, China + Germany
  • USS Gerald R. Ford: US Navy's newest carrier (commissioned 2017), deployed to Arabian Sea
  • India's Chabahar agreement: 10-year deal signed May 2024
  • INSTC: 7,200 km multi-modal corridor (India-Iran-Russia)
  • Iran's pre-sanction oil exports to India: approximately 500,000 barrels/day (2018)
  • Iranian Revolution: January-February 1979; Islamic Republic established April 1, 1979
  • NPT: Iran ratified in 1970; remains a signatory