EveningCicada [he/him, they/them]

Reza Pahlavi is a leader of the Iranian democratic opposition. He is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran.

As 2026 begins, Iran is on the verge of a profound transformation. Across our country — from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to cities, towns and villages far from the capital — Iranians are risking their lives to reclaim their future. Their message is unmistakable: The Islamic Republic has exhausted its legitimacy, and after almost 47 years, the country wants to be free.

The courage of these men and women deserves more than sympathy. It demands clarity, preparation and responsible leadership — inside Iran and among those who influence global affairs. Because Iran’s liberation will mean much more than a restoration of dignity to Iranians. It will bring a global peace dividend of almost unimaginable proportions.

That’s why I welcome President Donald Trump’s clear and firm support for the Iranian people. His message that the United States stands with those who seek freedom rather than with a regime that exports terror and instability has resonated deeply inside Iran. For protesters facing prison, torture, or death, knowing they are not alone matters. For the regime, it is a reminder that intimidation no longer guarantees survival. We saw proof of that in Venezuela.

The Islamic Republic of Iran today is weaker and more divided than at any point since 1979. Its response to peaceful dissent — mass arrests, executions and repression — shows the regime is afraid. According to human rights organizations, at least 1,500 executions were carried out from January to early December of last year, a sharp rise from 2024. Religious minorities — Christians, Jews and Baha’is — face systematic persecution. The regime’s violence is not a sign of its permanence; it is the behavior of a system struggling to maintain control.

Despite this pressure, the Iranian people persist. In recent days, protests have escalated in nearly all provinces and over 100 cities across Iran. Protesters are chanting my name alongside calls for freedom and national unity. I do not interpret this as an invitation to claim power. I bear it as a profound responsibility. It reflects a recognition — inside Iran — that our nation needs a unifying figure to help guide a transition away from tyranny and toward a democratic future chosen by the people themselves.

I have therefore stepped forward to lead and serve in that capacity: not as a ruler-in-waiting, but as a steward of a national transition to democracy. My role is to bring together Iran’s diverse democratic forces — monarchists and republicans, secular and religious, activists and professionals, civilians and members of the armed forces who want to see Iran stable and sovereign again — around the common principles of Iran’s territorial integrity, the protection of individual liberties and equality of all citizens and the separation of church and state. These three principles are to be buttressed by a process of national reconciliation and a referendum to determine the future democratic form of government.

People worry that Iran’s transition could lead to chaos, fragmentation or prolonged instability, like in Iraq or Afghanistan. That concern is legitimate — and it is precisely why preparation matters.

For a number of years, I have developed the Iran Prosperity Project, a growing network of more than one hundred Iranian experts in economics, law, energy, governance, public health and infrastructure. Together, they have developed detailed, sector-by-sector plans for an orderly transition that preserves essential services, stabilizes the economy and restores confidence at home and abroad. This work is complemented by ongoing consultations with international business leaders and executives who understand what economic recovery and proper management requires in practice, not just theory.

Another factor of stability will be working with those within the regime who break from it. We will not repeat the mistakes of Iraqi de-Baathification. My team has established secure channels for those within the regime’s own institutions who wish to break with the clerical regime and support a democratic Iran. Broadcast via Iran’s most-watched satellite news network, Iran International, my team has launched a secure platform through which members of the armed forces, security services and government institutions can confidentially signal their willingness to defect from the collapsing regime and align with the Iranian people. Tens of thousands have already engaged through this channel, clear evidence that dissatisfaction within the regime’s ranks is widespread and that many inside Iran’s institutions are prepared to play a constructive role in a peaceful transition.

There will be no power vacuum. There will be continuity of institutions where possible, accountability where necessary and a constitutional process, conducted transparently and under international observation, that allows Iranians to decide their own system of governance for the first time in generations.

Supporting the Iranian people is not an act of charity or interference; it is an investment in global stability. For almost 47 years, the Islamic Republic has fueled regional conflict, pursued nuclear blackmail and wrought global chaos. A free and democratic Iran will be a force for stability in the Middle East — not a source of endless crisis.

History rarely announces its turning points in advance. But today, the signs are unmistakable. The Iranian people are moving forward with courage and determination. What they need now is a world prepared to support a responsible transition. The time is now. Do not simply observe the birth of a new Iran. Work with us to ensure that it is peaceful, stable and worthy of the sacrifices its people are making.

The Venezuelan people are today rid of Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship and can only rejoice.

By seizing power and trampling on fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro gravely undermined the dignity of his own people.

The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We wish that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can swiftly ensure this transition.

But we need to establish a full picture. I then need to speak to Trump […] but I don’t shy away from this, I’ve been a lifelong advocate of international law and the importance of compliance with international law, but I want to ensure that I have all the facts at my disposal, and we haven’t got that at the moment, and we need to get that before we come to a decision about the consequences in relation to the actions that have been taken.

One of the first actions taken by Canada’s new government in March 2025 was to impose additional sanctions on Nicolás Maduro’s brutally oppressive and criminal regime — unequivocally condemning his grave breaches of international peace and security, gross and systematic human rights violations, and corruption. Canada has not recognised the illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election. The Canadian government therefore welcomes the opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity for the Venezuelan people.

Canada has long supported a peaceful, negotiated, and Venezuelan-led transition process that respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people. In keeping with our long-standing commitment to upholding the rule of law, sovereignty, and human rights, Canada calls on all parties to respect international law. We stand by the Venezuelan people’s sovereign right to decide and build their own future in a peaceful and democratic society.

Under Maduro’s regime, Venezuela has been one of the world’s most hardline socialist dictatorships.

Sweden has long pointed out that Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy - not least after the 2024 election fraud.

Within the EU, we have imposed sanctions on Venezuela and the Swedish government has increased support for independent media in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan people have now been freed from Maduro’s dictatorship.

But all states also have a responsibility to respect and act in accordance with international law. It is also a long-term security policy interest for Sweden.

What is now needed is a rapid and peaceful transition to democratic rule in Venezuela.

‘The developments in Venezuela mark a grave escalation of an already highly volatile situation. It is now imperative that the full facts of what has occurred are established,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

‘The Maduro regime lacks democratic legitimacy. The 2024 election made clear that the regime no longer commands the support of the majority of the Venezuelan people, yet Maduro has nevertheless clung to power. The regime has grown increasingly authoritarian and bears responsibility for widespread and systematic human rights violations,’ said Eide.

‘International law is universal and binding on all states. The American military operation in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law. A peaceful transition to democratic governance remains the only viable path forward for Venezuela. This requires inclusive political processes that respect the rights and aspirations of the population,’ said Eide.

Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a future of uncertainty and belligerence.

We call on all actors to consider the civilian population, to respect the UN Charter, and to work toward a just and negotiated transition.