Reza Pahlavi, the Iranian crown prince in exile, addressed the public on social media amid rising tensions in Iran. He emphasized that crucial moments lie ahead and mentioned that humanitarian aid promised by former U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived, aimed at countering the oppressive regime in Iran.
Pahlavi asserted that the ultimate victory must come from the Iranian people themselves, urging them to prepare for potential protests. He called on military and law enforcement personnel to join the citizens, reminding them of their oath to protect the nation and its people, rather than the current political leadership. He warned that failure to do so would lead to their downfall alongside the regime.
Furthermore, Pahlavi urged the U.S. President to exercise caution to protect civilian lives, reiterating that the Iranian populace is an ally of the free world. He advised Iranians to remain calm and stay at home while awaiting further instructions regarding any forthcoming protests, promising to maintain communication through social media and other channels if internet access is disrupted.
Earlier on February 28, Israeli forces launched strikes within Iran, resulting in explosions reported in Tehran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the attack as unexpected and issued a nationwide alert, advising citizens to stay near secure locations.
The IDF stated, “This is a preventive message to prepare the population for the possibility of rocket launches towards Israel.” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the country initiated a preventive military operation against Iran to neutralize potential threats from Tehran and prevent strikes on Israeli territory.
A U.S. official later confirmed America’s involvement in the operation, stating that airstrikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s security infrastructure. President Trump acknowledged the military campaign against Iran, characterizing the Iranian leadership as a dangerous group posing a direct threat to the U.S. and its allies.
Reports indicated that Iran is preparing to respond, with an Iranian official stating that the retaliation would be devastating. Subsequently, Iran launched rockets towards Israel, as reported by the IDF on social media.
The military confirmed that defense systems were activated to intercept the threats, and sirens were sounded in various regions across Israel following the detection of rockets launched from Iran.
Later updates revealed that Iran targeted military sites in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, with explosions also reported in Kuwait. Local media noted significant traffic jams at the exit of Dubai as a result of the escalating situation. Bahrain condemned the attacks on its territory as treacherous, confirming that they were directed at specific infrastructure.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian crown prince, has called for unity among Iranians as tensions escalate following Israeli airstrikes on Iran. He emphasized the need for the Iranian people to take action and warned military personnel to align with citizens against the regime. Concurrently, Israel has initiated military operations in response to perceived threats from Iran.