Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi stated Sunday that he possesses the support and mandate to lead a transitional government in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pahlavi said millions of Iranians back him, with forces inside the country broadening a coalition and the military poised to side with the opposition. He emphasized possession of a detailed plan of action for the transition.

Khamenei died Saturday in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes dubbed Operation Epic Fury, which targeted regime sites and killed over 40 Iranian officials. The attacks have plunged Iran into a leadership crisis, prompting the formation of a Provisional Leadership Council under the constitution, including figures like Alireza Arafi as interim supreme leader. President Donald Trump described the strikes as addressing threats from the world's top terrorism sponsor and told Iranians their freedom hour had arrived.

Pahlavi's pitch to the White House centers on "MIGA: Make Iran Great Again," highlighting over a trillion dollars in economic impact for the U.S. from opening Iran's market and investments once the regime falls. He is collaborating with Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he calls "Uncle Lindsey," to brief a bipartisan Senate group on his proposals.

Central to his vision is the Iran Prosperity Project, a roadmap uniting opposition factions around territorial integrity, liberties, religion-state separation, and popular sovereignty. Steps include a referendum for a new constitution, internationally supervised elections, and dissolution of the transitional government afterward. Pahlavi proposes "Cyrus Accords" for regional peace, including swift Israel recognition to foster Middle East stability.

In a Washington Post op-ed Saturday, Pahlavi thanked Trump for "moral clarity and decisive action," crediting his 2018 nuclear deal exit and recent strikes. He asserted, "Many Iranians, often despite facing bullets, have called on me to lead this transition," pledging Iran would avoid Iraq-style chaos through prepared first-100-days plans. Pahlavi urged security forces to defect and citizens to fill the streets for liberation.

Born in 1960 and trained as a fighter pilot, Pahlavi has lived in U.S. exile since the 1979 revolution ousted his father, the last shah. Polls show about one-third of Iranians support him, making him the top opposition figure, though another third oppose, citing his father's authoritarian past.