Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, welcomed the announcement of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death, attributing part of the Iranian people's hopes for freedom to the actions of former President Donald Trump. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post, Pahlavi thanked Trump for his administration's policies that aimed to apply pressure on the Iranian regime, including the withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. He emphasized that these actions have galvanised support among the Iranian populace for a change in leadership.

In his critique of the current Iranian regime, Pahlavi pointed out the government's failure to act in the national interest over the past five decades, instead pursuing what he described as an expansive revolutionary project. He condemned the authorities' brutal crackdown on protests in January 2023, which reportedly resulted in over 30,000 deaths, illustrating the regime's oppressive nature and lack of legitimacy among the Iranian people.

Pahlavi expressed his belief that the final victory will be achieved by the Iranian people through their resilience and determination to overcome oppressive rule. His statements reflect growing sentiments among Iranian exiles and activists who view the potential end of Khamenei's rule as an opportunity for a new democratic chapter in Iran's history, fostering hopes of a more open and free society.