"Rudy Giuliani: The Iranian People Will Not Return to the Shah’s Dictatorship" "2 March 2026"

In a sharp and explicit attack, prominent American political figure Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and one of the well-known political voices in the United States, published a series of posts on his official account criticizing Reza Pahlavi’s declaration of himself as Iran’s “transitional leader.” Giuliani warned that this step is extremely dangerous and will deepen the crisis and further destabilize the situation. He stated unequivocally that the Iranian people will never accept replacing the mullahs’ dictatorship with a return to the Shah’s dictatorship, describing Pahlavi’s attempts as an insult to Iranians’ sacrifices for freedom.

"Dangerous step and a recipe for disaster"

Giuliani began his posts by describing Reza Pahlavi’s attempt to install himself as a “transitional leader” as a risky move. He stressed that this individual action will not serve the path of democratic change; rather, it will further complicate the landscape and lead to greater instability inside Iran.

In firm language, Giuliani warned of the consequences of this announcement, emphasizing that such moves are a genuine recipe for disaster and do not align in any way with the requirements of the sensitive stage the country is going through.

"Lack of popular support and a legacy of repression"

Assessing Pahlavi’s political weight, Giuliani stated clearly that he has virtually no support inside Iran. He reminded readers that Reza Pahlavi is, literally, the son of the dictator overthrown by the Iranian people through their own will.

He explained that the overthrow was an inevitable outcome after long years of repression, brutality, theft, and autocratic rule that characterized the Shah’s era.

Giuliani underscored the Iranian people’s awareness, noting that the masses fighting today to free themselves from the grip of a religious authoritarian system will not turn back.

He stressed that Iranians will never resort to accepting another autocratic Shah and will not agree to reproduce the tragedies of the past under any name.

"Stolen money and an insult to the people’s sacrifices"

Giuliani described Reza Pahlavi as the rightful heir to a system marked by corruption and brutality. He added that the Shah’s system was originally imposed by foreign powers against the will of the Iranian people.

Giuliani concluded his posts by highlighting Pahlavi’s lifestyle, stating that he spent his entire life calling himself a prince, living in luxury based on money stolen from the wealth of the Iranian people. He said that Pahlavi’s mere presence and attempt to take center stage is a grave insult to the enormous sacrifices and blood now being given in the struggle for freedom.