Iran after Khamenei: revolution and regime change with Reza Pahlavi?
Iran after Khamenei: Iranian-born Reza Mehman examines the situation after Khamenei’s death, the debate about international law and whether Reza Pahlavi is the right person to lead a transition to democracy.
The original episode is in German. This is the complete English translation of the article and edited transcript. It preserves the conversation’s contemporary perspective, quoted statements and political assessments rather than updating them retrospectively. The source spelling “Isabel Chayani” is retained.
Iran after Khamenei: this episode’s questions
Khamenei is dead. The Islamic Republic of Iran faces a historic turning point. In this podcast episode, Iranian-born Reza Mehman examines reactions to the Supreme Leader’s death, the debate about international law surrounding what the episode calls the Israeli-American pre-emptive strike, and whether Reza Pahlavi could lead the transition to democracy. He quotes a Sky presenter, the German Chancellor and journalist Isabel Chayani, and brings his personal perspective as someone whose family and friends live in Iran.
Summary
One-sentence version: Iranian-born Reza Mehman examines the situation after Khamenei’s death, the debate about international law and Reza Pahlavi’s role in a transition to democracy in Iran.
Three-sentence version: Following Khamenei’s death in an Israeli-American strike, Reza Mehman discusses Iranian reactions ranging from satisfaction to celebration. He examines the debate about international law and argues that it is dysfunctional if it protects a regime that brutally oppresses its own people. Reza sees Reza Pahlavi as the only realistic figure who could enable a transition to democracy in Iran.
Five-sentence version: Khamenei is dead, and for Reza Mehman and the Iranians he knows, this brings a sense of satisfaction, although he personally would not celebrate. He examines the debate about international law: Russia and China block the UN Security Council, leaving international legal measures against Iran’s regime ineffective for decades. The German Chancellor calls the mullah regime a terrorist regime and shares many Iranians’ relief, a position Reza welcomes. Reza Pahlavi has produced a detailed document setting out a transition to democracy, and Reza Mehman sees him as the only realistic figure to lead that transition. Reza considers demands for Pahlavi to distance himself from his father excessive; what matters more is enabling democratic elections in Iran.
Context: who, what and why
Who is speaking: Reza Mehman is a podcaster born in Iran. In this solo episode, he speaks from his personal perspective as someone with family and friends there.
What it is about: Khamenei’s death in an Israeli-American strike, Iranian reactions, the debate about international law and who could lead a transition to democracy in Iran.
Why it matters: Khamenei’s death is a historic turning point for Iran and the wider region. The question of what follows the end of the mullah regime affects millions of Iranians and has global geopolitical implications.
Three key questions in this episode:
- How are Iranians reacting to Khamenei’s death?
- Was the Israeli-American strike justified under international law?
- Can Reza Pahlavi lead Iran’s transition to democracy?
Contents
- Introduction — The situation after Khamenei’s death
- Summary — A concise summary in three versions
- Context — Who is speaking, what it is about and why it matters
- Topics and context — Political and social themes
- Key points — The episode’s main arguments at a glance
- Frequently asked questions — Answers to the main questions
- Highlighted quotes — Standout statements from the episode
- The complete conversation — The edited podcast transcript
- Keywords — Relevant search terms
- Names and terms — Important people and terms in the episode
- Passage for quotation — A ready-to-use text
Topics and context
1. Khamenei’s death: satisfaction rather than celebration
Reza Mehman and the Iranians he knows see Khamenei’s death as a source of satisfaction, but not a reason to celebrate.
Keywords: Khamenei’s death, satisfaction, Islamic Republic, Supreme Leader
2. The international law debate
Was the Israeli-American strike justified under international law? Reza argues that international law is dysfunctional if it protects a terrorist regime.
Keywords: international law, pre-emptive strike, UN Security Council, Russia, China
3. The Chancellor and Germany’s response
The German Chancellor calls the mullah regime a terrorist regime and shares many Iranians’ relief. Reza welcomes this.
Keywords: German Chancellor, mullah regime, terrorist regime, German foreign policy
4. Reza Pahlavi as a transitional figure
Reza Pahlavi has produced a detailed document for a transition to democracy. Reza Mehman sees him as the only realistic figure to lead that transition.
Keywords: Reza Pahlavi, democracy in Iran, regime change, transition
5. Human rights versus international law
Isabel Chayani’s point, as quoted in the episode, is that Europe fails to see Iran’s human rights situation and focuses only on refugees and nuclear weapons.
Keywords: Isabel Chayani, human rights in Iran, refugees, nuclear weapons
Key points from the episode
- Khamenei is dead. For the Iranians Reza knows, it brings satisfaction rather than a reason to celebrate.
- The mullah regime has brutally oppressed its own people, violating freedom of expression and religion, enforcing compulsory headscarves and using torture.
- Reza argues that international law is dysfunctional when Russia and China block every measure in the UN Security Council.
- The German Chancellor calls the mullah regime a terrorist regime and shares many Iranians’ relief.
- Isabel Chayani argues that Europe does not see Iran’s human rights situation, focusing instead on refugees and nuclear weapons.
- The quoted discussion refers to 20,000–30,000 people killed within days and says Europe has not seen anything comparable since the Second World War. The clip explicitly notes that the number is unconfirmed.
- Reza Pahlavi has produced a detailed document for a transition to democracy.
- Reza considers demands that Pahlavi distance himself from his father excessive: the future matters more.
- Democracy means building majorities. Iran will not have 100 per cent agreement either.
- The US supports regime change; Reza argues it would barely have been possible without that support.
Frequently asked questions
How are Iranians reacting to Khamenei’s death?
Reza Mehman and the Iranians he knows feel satisfaction at Khamenei’s death, but do not regard it as a reason to celebrate. He compares it with Osama bin Laden’s death: he understands the joy, but would not celebrate himself. Many Iranians on social media are celebrating, which Reza sees as an extreme response. The wounds Khamenei left are real and deep.
Was the Israeli-American strike justified under international law?
Reza Mehman argues that international law is dysfunctional when Russia and China block every measure in the UN Security Council. The Chancellor describes a “dilemma”: international legal measures achieved nothing against Iran’s regime for decades. Reza sees the strike as necessary to end the mullah regime. These are the views discussed in the episode, rather than a legal determination.
Can Reza Pahlavi lead Iran’s transition to democracy?
Reza Mehman sees Reza Pahlavi as the only realistic figure to lead a transition to democracy. Pahlavi has produced a detailed document outlining the steps he wants to take. Reza considers demands that he distance himself from his father excessive; enabling democratic elections in Iran matters more. Criticism of Pahlavi is normal in a democracy.
What did the German Chancellor say about Iran?
The Chancellor calls the mullah regime a terrorist regime responsible for decades of oppression of the Iranian people. He shares many Iranians’ relief that this regime is now coming to an end. He describes a “dilemma”: international legal measures could achieve nothing against the regime. Reza Mehman is very pleased with this statement.
What does “Pedarsag, chok besered, besuz tu jehannam” mean?
This Farsi phrase, spoken by a Sky presenter at the end of her editorial about Khamenei’s death, is translated in the episode as: “Your father is a dog, dirt on your head, burn in hell.” It is a direct insult expressing the feelings many Iranians have towards Khamenei.
Why does Europe fail to see Iran’s human rights situation?
Journalist Isabel Chayani criticises what she sees as Europe’s self-interested thinking: avoiding refugees and fear of nuclear weapons. Iran’s human rights situation receives little attention. She refers to an unconfirmed figure of 20,000–30,000 people killed within days, saying she believes Europe has seen nothing comparable since the Second World War.
Highlighted quotes
“After 47 years of Islamist tyranny, the dictator is dead and Iran is on the verge of being liberated. I never thought I would see this day in my lifetime.”
— Sky presenter quoted by Reza Mehman
“Iran’s mullah regime is a terrorist regime responsible for decades of oppression of the Iranian people. The German government therefore shares the relief of many Iranians that this mullah regime is now coming to an end.”
— German Chancellor quoted by Reza Mehman
“It’s actually driven by self-interest, because all you think is: what about the nuclear bomb, and hopefully we won’t get any refugees? But you don’t see the human rights situation in Iran at all.”
— Isabel Chayani, quoted by Reza Mehman
“It’s a kind of satisfaction and almost a sense of release, I’d say, that such a terrible person is finally no longer in power.”
— Reza Mehman
“I think it’s important to have an opposition figure people can look to and say: this person can at least help with the transition to democracy or make an election possible. I see that in Reza Pahlavi.”
— Reza Mehman
“We have Russia and China on the Security Council. You can assume their interests are completely opposed.”
— Reza Mehman
The complete conversation
Introduction: Khamenei is dead
Reza Mehman:
The whole world is looking towards Iran right now, of course. Pretty much every Iranian is probably being asked the same thing many people are asking me: what I think, how Iranians feel after this pre-emptive strike by Israel and the US, or this decapitation strike. Khamenei is now dead. My opinion, and that of all the Iranians I personally know in this context, is exactly the same. There is certainly another side, but the Iranians I know all think alike about it. There is a sense of satisfaction that this person, this Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, is finally dead.
This woman from Sky expresses it the way every Iranian I know actually feels. I’ll play it again briefly.
[Sky clip]: “This will be the shortest editorial I’ll ever deliver. All I have to say is that after 47 years of Islamist tyranny, the dictator is dead and Iran is on the verge of being liberated. I never thought I would see this day in my lifetime. And I just want to conclude this editorial with this message to the late supreme leader. Pedarsag, chok besered, besuz tu jehannam.”
I’ll translate it briefly for anyone who doesn’t speak Farsi, or Persian. Pedarsag is an insult, something along the lines of “your father is a dog”. “Chok tun sered” means something like “dirt on your head”. And “besuz tu jehannam” means something like “rot in hell” or “burn in hell”. That’s what I mean. In my circle, all the Iranians I know think the same way.
Satisfaction, but not celebration
Reza Mehman:
It’s a kind of satisfaction. Of course, I also see in the media and on social media that many Iranians are celebrating, actually throwing parties and so on. That happens too; it’s an extreme response. Personally, celebrating would not be how I’d express my feelings. We’re still talking about the killing of a human being, a very evil human being in my view. I find it a little macabre, just as when Osama bin Laden died and Americans went out into the streets, celebrated, honked their car horns and so on.
Of course, I understand the vulnerability and the wounds caused by certain people. Khamenei was a terrible person too. Personally, I wouldn’t celebrate it. For me it’s more a kind of satisfaction and almost a sense of release, I’d say, that such a terrible person is finally no longer in power.
The debate about international law
Reza Mehman:
What has also really surprised me over the past few days is that a debate about international law has emerged, asking whether this was lawful. Personally, that makes me shake my head. A presenter I greatly respect said this:
[Isabel Chayani clip]: “It’s actually driven by self-interest, because all you think is: what about the nuclear bomb, and hopefully we won’t get any refugees? But you don’t see at all — and it’s something the Americans haven’t paid much attention to either, and the Europeans even less — what the human rights situation in Iran is like. Under this dictator, the human rights situation became as bad as it could be. For us, it’s just a news item: perhaps it was 20,000, perhaps 30,000. It’s such a shock. I don’t think Europe has seen this since the Second World War: within two days, if it was 30,000 — the number isn’t confirmed, but a large number of people — suddenly all wiped out.”
Her work is often excellent, I think, and gets to the heart of it. I also welcome what our Chancellor said. He tried to put it into context.
The Chancellor’s quoted assessment
[Chancellor clip]: “Within the German government, we have discussed in detail the international legal assessment of what is currently happening. We see the dilemma that international legal measures and steps, which we have repeatedly tried over the past decades, apparently achieve nothing against a regime that is pursuing nuclear armament and brutally oppressing its own people. That puts us in a dilemma. But we can at least say this in terms of international law: it is an ongoing conflict, lasting for decades, which Israel and the United States of America now want to end through military strikes. The German government leaves no doubt about our position on Iran’s regime. Iran’s mullah regime is a terrorist regime responsible for decades of oppression of the Iranian people. The German government therefore shares the relief of many Iranians that this mullah regime is now coming to an end.”
Honestly, I’m very happy the Chancellor has expressed himself in this way. If you think again about what Isabel Chayani said, I don’t think we can even imagine 20,000 or 30,000 people being killed within a few days. Why does nobody talk about international law then? Why now, when a pre-emptive strike against Iran happens?
Reza Pahlavi as a transitional figure
Reza Mehman:
Honestly, I’m very happy that a first, very important step has been taken towards finally overthrowing the regime and allowing something new to happen. Of course, there is no guarantee everything will immediately improve. I think there are many plans for what could be done and how. We still have someone you could almost call the opposition leader, the son of the last Shah, Reza Pahlavi, who has produced an entire document setting out the individual steps he wants to take. I know he is also viewed very critically. But you have to start somewhere.
I’m also sure of this: I hear a lot of criticism of Reza Pahlavi because he doesn’t represent all Iranians. That’s absolutely true. But it’s entirely normal for people to hold different opinions, even here in Germany. Democracy also means what we’re experiencing now: majorities have to be built.
The question of a common opposition figure
I think it’s important to have an opposition figure people can look to and say: this person can at least help with the transition to democracy or make an election possible. I see that in Reza Pahlavi. We’ve also discussed extensively whether he needs to distance himself from his father. Some of my clips about that went viral, particularly on Instagram. I think: wouldn’t everyone then have to distance themselves from their parents and grandparents because we hold different opinions? In fact, I found an older article in the LA Times in which he does distance himself from his father on certain points.
The demand that a young man distance himself from this is one side of it. On the other hand, we now need to look ahead so that people’s lives improve. For that, we need someone who makes democratic elections in Iran possible. At the moment, I don’t see anyone else who could bring that about.
Conclusion
Reza Mehman:
As we’ve seen, the US supports this too, which I consider extremely important. Without that support, I can hardly imagine how it would happen. A leadership as sick as the one currently in Iran, so well connected within the population, using so much technology and sending its bombs and drones everywhere in a kind of kamikaze fashion, has to be removed. You can tell this is a very emotional subject for me too. Over the coming days and weeks, I’ll speak about Iran more often, continue watching developments and try to assess them, at least from my perspective. Thank you for listening. Until next time. Bye, bye, bye, bye.
Keywords
Tags: Iran after Khamenei, Khamenei’s death, regime change in Iran, Reza Pahlavi, international law Iran, German Chancellor Iran, Isabel Chayani, human rights in Iran, mullah regime, UN Security Council, Russia China veto, Reza Mehman, Islamic Republic, democracy in Iran, pre-emptive strike
Names and terms
Reza Mehman, Khamenei, Reza Pahlavi, Isabel Chayani, German Chancellor, Sky News, LA Times, UN Security Council, Russia, China, Israel, US, Islamic Republic of Iran, mullah regime, Pedarsag, Farsi, democracy, international law, human rights
Passage for quotation
Khamenei is dead, and for Reza Mehman this brings satisfaction, but not a reason to celebrate.
The German Chancellor calls the mullah regime a terrorist regime and shares many Iranians’ relief, a position Reza welcomes.
Reza argues that international law is dysfunctional when Russia and China block every measure in the UN Security Council.
Isabel Chayani’s point, as quoted here, is that Europe fails to see Iran’s human rights situation and focuses only on refugees and nuclear weapons.
In Reza’s view, Reza Pahlavi is the only realistic figure for a transition to democracy in Iran; the future matters more than demands that he distance himself from his father.
Find more perspectives and conversations in my collection about Iran.
