PARIS, France, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei's death is "historically significant" but will not "automatically" lead to the fall of the Iranian system, the widow of the country's last shah told AFP in an interview Tuesday. Pahlavi, 87, urged the international community to respect Iranian sovereignty and assist the people in following their own "destiny". She added that her son Reza Pahlavi, who has positioned himself as an alternative if the republic falls, "is in the process of preparing" such a transition. US-based Reza Pahlavi entered the global spotlight during nationwide protests that peaked in January, where many demonstrators chanted slogans favourable to the former shah's son. "What I want is for the international community to clearly support the fundamental rights of Iranians: the right to choose their leaders, to express themselves freely, to live in dignity and prosperity," she said.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 04, 2026 06:54 UTC