Any Deal with Tehran is a Pause Before the Next War: Reza Pahlavi Warns of Regional Instability
Poinews.com – Exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of the country’s former shah, has declared that any agreement with Tehran is merely a temporary reprieve rather than a sustainable peace. In a recent interview with Euronews, he stressed that the current US-Iran framework deal functions as a brief truce, allowing the Iranian regime to consolidate its power and prepare for renewed hostilities. “Any arrangement that keeps regime remnants in control is not true peace, but a pause before the next war,” Pahlavi said, underscoring the fragility of the deal and its implications for regional stability.
Pahlavi’s assertion comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, which culminated in a June 17 agreement following a three-and-a-half-month escalation. The conflict began with US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran, resulting in the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. These attacks ignited a broader regional confrontation, with both sides now seeking to negotiate a ceasefire while preserving strategic advantages.
Regime Resilience and Strategic Moves
Despite the agreement’s immediate halt to hostilities, Pahlavi argued that the Iranian regime is already using the deal to strengthen its military and political foothold. He pointed to the execution of Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi, two protesters detained during nationwide demonstrations in January, as evidence of the regime’s resolve to suppress dissent. “The day it signed this document for ‘peace,’ it executed two more Iranians for protesting on 8 and 9 January. That should tell you everything you need to know,” he said, framing the deal as a strategic move to regain control.
These executions, Pahlavi claimed, were a direct response to the growing unrest in Iran, which began with severe economic hardship in December 2025. The protests, which spread across the country by January, led to a contested death toll. Iranian authorities reported 3,117 fatalities, while HRANA, a human rights group, verified 7,007 deaths. Unofficial estimates suggest the number could be as high as 40,000, highlighting the regime’s brutal tactics to quell opposition.
The Framework Agreement and Regional Implications
The framework deal extends the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran for 60 days, with both sides agreeing to negotiate final terms, particularly on Iran’s nuclear program. During this period, the US has paused sanctions on Iranian oil, and both nations have pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for critical shipping. However, Pahlavi questioned the sincerity of these commitments, noting Tehran’s insistence on maintaining control over the strategic waterway as a key leverage point.
He warned that the agreement’s temporary nature could lead to renewed aggression. “A weakened regime is still a dangerous one, and it will strike back at the first chance,” Pahlavi emphasized. “Whether the deal survives 60 days or is extended, it changes nothing about the core issues.” The leader argued that Iran’s revolutionary guard and ideological framework are incompatible with lasting peace, making any temporary truce a precursor to the next conflict.
According to Pahlavi, the framework agreement represents a critical moment for the region. “It gives the regime a window to rebuild alliances, rearm, and reassert dominance,” he said. “Stability in the region is only possible if the Islamic Republic is replaced. Its expansionist policies and proxy networks are inseparable from its survival.” He called for a complete restructuring of Iran’s political system, insisting that any deal that keeps the regime in power is destined to fail.
