Pro-monarchy and pro-democracy protesters gather across Europe in support of Iran
Pro-Monarchy and Pro-Democracy Demonstrators Converge in European Cities
On Saturday, citizens from across Europe raised the emblems of Iran’s pre-revolution era, waving lion-shaped banners in solidarity with the nation’s people amid tensions with the United States and Israel. Protests erupted in major urban centers, with participants in Berlin, Stockholm, and Paris voicing their stance on the country’s leadership transition following the Israeli-American strike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Some demonstrators championed the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s final monarch, as a potential leader for a new era. Others opposed his candidacy, advocating for continued support of the current regime.
London and Paris: Diverging Calls for Iran’s Future
In London, the crowd at the “Hands Off Iran” rally numbered between 5,000 and 6,000, as reported by the Metropolitan Police. Protesters chanted, “Stop the bombing now, now, now,” while some held signs endorsing Khamenei’s leadership. Paris hosted two distinct gatherings: one endorsing Reza Pahlavi’s role in leading a transition, and another condemning that path. A 35-year-old student, Masoud Ghanaatian, expressed backing for Pahlavi at a southern Paris demonstration, where participants displayed images of the late shah’s son and waved flags representing both the US and pre-revolutionary Iran.
“I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution,” said Masoud Ghanaatian. “He’s a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections.”
Meanwhile, in Stockholm, supporters of Pahlavi gathered, holding up photographs of him and his late father. In Amsterdam, marchers followed a canal route, displaying Israeli, American, and pre-revolution Iran flags, and urged the government to invite Pahlavi and shut down the Iranian embassy. In the UK, anti-war activists assembled at an air force base in Fairford shortly after dawn, bearing signs like “Hands off Iran,” “Peace,” and “Yanks go home.”
Leadership Transition and Foreign Influence
US President Donald Trump pledged to assist Iran’s economic recovery if the country appoints a successor to Khamenei who aligns with his vision. Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, countered this, asserting that the US has no say in selecting the next leader. “The selection of Iran’s leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference,” he emphasized.
Across the continent, the demonstrations highlighted a split in public opinion, with some urging a return to monarchy and others championing democratic reforms. The events underscored the growing influence of Iran’s leadership crisis on European streets, as citizens called for an end to foreign military actions and expressed their hopes for the nation’s future.