The son of Iran's last shah Reza Pahlavi, who has positioned himself as an alternative if the Islamic republic falls, called on Tuesday for national unity from Iranian ethnic minorities as war engulfed the Middle East.Iran's population of more than 85 million is ethnically diverse, with large Azeri, Lur, Kurdish, Arab, Baloch and Turkmen minorities.
The Islamic republic has long been accused of discriminating against ethnic minorities, with many groups supporting successive waves of anti-government protests in the country and some -- particularly the Kurds and Balochis -- waging insurgencies seeking self-determination.
Pahlavi in an X post looked to assure ethnic minorities they would not be discriminated against if he were leading the country, and appeared to urge them not to use the current conflict to press for separation.
"We stand at the threshold of this regime's fall. Yet we must remain vigilant and prepared, and deny opportunistic forces -- those who have long cast covetous eyes on Iran's soil -- the chance to exploit this moment," he said.
"You are an inseparable part of Iran's historical and cultural fabric... I am confident that you will remain steadfast in this covenant," he added.
"I firmly believe that through national unity and shared resolve, a bright future awaits you and every Iranian."
US-based Pahlavi -- who has not been to Iran since before the 1979 revolution that ousted the monarchy -- entered the global spotlight during nationwide protests that peaked in January, where many demonstrators chanted pro-Pahlavi slogans.
But the Iranian opposition remains fractured, and ethnic minority groups have long clashed with Pahlavi supporters.
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