By Kayhan Life Staff
More than 130 U.K.-based professionals of Iranian descent have signed a letter urging the British government to prepare for a democratic transition in Iran and naming Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a unifying figure in that effort.
In the letter — addressed to members of Parliament and to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and published in its entirety below — financiers, lawyers, physicians, engineers, technologists, and academics associated with institutions and companies such as JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, UBS, Amund, and Amazon have voiced their support for a peaceful transition to a secular, democratic system chosen by the Iranian people through free and fair elections. They have urged Britain and its allies to begin preparing now for the potential aftermath of the Islamic Republic.
“For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic has ruled Iran through repression, corruption and violence,” say the signatories. “It has denied the Iranian people their fundamental freedoms, destabilized the Middle East, and isolated one of the world’s most historically rich and strategically important nations from the international community. The current regime does not represent the will of the Iranian people.”
“We support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom and call on the UK government and the international community to stand with them until the current regime is replaced by a democratic system chosen by the Iranian people,” the signatories add.
The letter’s central demand is that Britain take a harder line on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful military and ideological arm of the Iranian state. Long accused by critics of orchestrating domestic repression and projecting influence through armed groups across the region, the Guards have become the subject of debate in Britain and other Western capitals over whether they should be formally designated a terrorist organization and subjected to more sweeping sanctions. The signatories argue that the survival of Iran’s current system is not merely an Iranian domestic matter, but a question with direct consequences for international security.
The petition comes at a dramatic moment in Iran’s modern history — starting with the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protests in 2022-23, and culminating in the January uprising (known as the “Lion and Sun Revolution”) in which millions reportedly demonstrated across all of Iran’s 31 provinces in response to a call from Reza Pahlavi — and an estimated 12,000 to more than 40,000 were killed.
The letter’s signatories depict Iran’s post-1979 regime not simply as repressive at home, but as a destabilizing force whose reach extends to Britain and Europe. They urge Western governments to move beyond condemnation and begin to curtail the regime’s staying power — by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety as a terrorist organization, dismantling its financial and operational networks, freezing regime assets worldwide, and targeting the covert oil-tanker system known as the “shadow fleet.”
The appeal also urges Britain and its allies to help keep Iran online through Starlink and other secure communications tools, deny the authorities the ability to impose internet shutdowns, expel regime diplomats, pursue legal action against those responsible for crimes against humanity, and press for the immediate release of political prisoners.
Reza Pahlavi has in recent years presented himself not as someone with claims to the throne, but as the advocate of a secular, democratic order in which Iranians themselves determine the country’s future through a referendum and internationally supervised elections.
The letter stops short of calling for the restoration of the monarchy. Instead, it describes Pahlavi as the “legitimate and unifying leader” of Iran’s democratic opposition during a possible transitional phase, someone who could help hold together a broad coalition until voters decide the final shape of the political system.
Graduates of Tehran University of Art have likewise described Pahlavi as “a symbol of national solidarity, secularism, and commitment to a peaceful and people-centered transition,” arguing that he could help unify scattered forces and open the way to an Iran in which “the free vote of its citizens determines the destiny of our country.”
Former political prisoners from the 1980s — including some arrested in connection with the Mujahedin-e Khalq and other leftist and communist groups — have also backed his role in a transitional period. Similar endorsements have come from Canadian lawyers, Iranian Zoroastrians, Christians, Iranian engineers, and auto-industry specialists in Sweden, and the group known as the Patriotic Doctors of Iran.
The professionals behind the statement cite the Iran Prosperity Project (I.P.P.) as a credible, expert-led framework for economic recovery and institutional stabilization during a transition. By invoking a roadmap for stability and reconstruction, they suggest that the democratic transition in Iran is not merely a moral aspiration but one that can be prepared for in practical terms.
The significance of the appeal lies partly in who is making it: not only veteran activists or royalist loyalists, but professionals arguing in the language of institutions, policy, and statecraft. Their letter arrives as both indictment and invitation: an indictment of a state that has answered dissent with massacre, and an invitation to Western governments to begin planning for the possibility that the Islamic Republic’s end may come faster than expected.
The following is the text of the letter, together with the list of signatories:
Letter from Iranian Professionals in the United Kingdom in Support of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi
To Members of Parliament and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
March 2026
We, the undersigned Iranian and Iranian-heritage professionals working across financial services, healthcare, technology, academia, law, consulting, engineering, entrepreneurship and other professional sectors in the United Kingdom, write to express our support for the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people and for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the legitimate and unifying leader of Iran’s democratic opposition and a credible figure to lead the transition to a secular democratic system following the end of the Islamic Republic.
For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic has ruled Iran through repression, corruption and violence. It has denied the Iranian people their fundamental freedoms, destabilised the Middle East, and isolated one of the world’s most historically rich and strategically important nations from the international community. The current regime does not represent the will of the Iranian people.
Across Iran today, citizens continue to risk imprisonment, torture and death in pursuit of freedom. Their demand is clear: the right to determine their political future through democratic means.
A Vision for Iran’s Democratic Future
For nearly four decades, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has championed a vision for Iran built on four fundamental principles:
- Territorial integrity of Iran
- Separation of religion and state: a secular constitutional framework
- Individual freedoms and equality under law, without regard to gender, ethnicity or belief
- Democratic self-determination. The people of Iran, not foreign powers or unelected clerics, will decide the form and leadership of their future government through free and fair elections
Central to this vision is a clear commitment: the Iranian people themselves must determine the future form of their government through a democratic referendum and internationally supervised elections following a transitional period.
A transitional framework led by democratic forces would ensure stability while preparing the institutional foundations necessary for legitimate elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
Importantly, the foundations for such a transition have already been developed. The Iran Prosperity Project (IPP), supported by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and developed by a network of Iranian experts, provides a comprehensive blueprint for rebuilding Iran following the fall of the Islamic Republic. The plan outlines policies across governance, economic recovery, energy, healthcare and infrastructure, including an emergency stabilisation framework for the first 100–180 days following regime collapse to ensure continuity of essential services, economic stability and public order.
This preparation directly addresses concerns about instability or a potential power vacuum and demonstrates that Iran’s democratic opposition has developed serious and practical plans for a stable transition to democracy.
Supporting the Iranian People
We support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom and call on the UK government and the international community to stand with them until the current regime is replaced by a democratic system chosen by the Iranian people.
We respectfully urge the United Kingdom and its allies to:
- Protect the people of Iran by weakening the regime’s machinery of repression, especially by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety as a terrorist organisation and dismantling its financial and operational networks
- Maximum economic pressure by blocking the regime’s assets around the world and targeting its clandestine network of oil tankers, known as the “shadow fleet.”
- Provide internet for Iran through Starlink and other secure communications tools, and disable the regime’s ability to shut down the internet.
- Expel the regime’s diplomats and pursue legal action against perpetrators of crimes against humanity.
- Demand the immediate release of political prisoners
- Prepare for a democratic transition in Iran and recognize a legitimate transitional government led by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi
We also endorse Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s explicit commitment to popular sovereignty and the right of the Iranian people to determine their own political future.
Why a Democratic Iran Matters for the United Kingdom
Supporting a democratic transition in Iran is not only a matter of principle; it also aligns with the United Kingdom’s strategic interests.
The Islamic Republic has been linked to terrorist networks and threats against dissidents across Europe, including within the United Kingdom. A democratic Iran would significantly reduce these security risks.
Iran also possesses some of the world’s largest energy reserves. Its reintegration into global markets under a democratic government could strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on authoritarian suppliers, including Russia.
Continued repression and economic collapse risk generating future waves of migration and humanitarian displacement. By contrast, democratic transition would likely encourage reverse migration, enabling millions of highly educated Iranians abroad to return and contribute to rebuilding their country.
Finally, a democratic Iran would represent one of the most significant economic openings in the emerging world, creating major opportunities for trade, investment and partnership with the United Kingdom across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, technology, finance and education.
A Shared Commitment
We urge the United Kingdom and its partners to remain steadfast in their support for the Iranian people until the Islamic Republic has relinquished power and a democratic transition can begin.
Throughout this process, Iran’s territorial integrity and national unity must remain inviolable, and the future political system of the country must be determined solely by the will of the Iranian people through free and fair democratic processes.
At the same time, international engagement must be guided by the utmost care to prevent harm to civilians and to safeguard the dignity and safety of the Iranian population, whose courage continues to drive the movement for freedom.
As members of the Iranian professional community in the United Kingdom, we remain deeply connected to our homeland and to the people who continue to fight for freedom inside Iran.
We stand ready to support the rebuilding of a free, democratic and prosperous Iran – economically, institutionally and socially – once the Iranian people have secured the democratic system they seek.
DISCLAIMER: This letter reflects the personal convictions of its signatories in their individual capacity. Institutional affiliations, if any, do not constitute, imply, or represent any endorsement, position, or policy of any employer, institution, or organisation. Signatories are not acting as representatives of their institutions.
Signatories (Alphabetical by Surname)
Sepide Aghajanpoor – Senior Commercial Data Analyst
Antony Alam – Managing Director
Dr Megan Alavi – Dentist
Soheil Alipour – Entrepreneur
Dr Amin Amenien – Implant Surgeon
Nazy Amini – Director
Ebrahim Aminian – IT Specialist
Dr Cezar Ansari – Orthodontist
A Arya – Managing Director
Salar Arya – Managing Director & Founder
Fred Farshid Aryan – Data Manager
Parisa Arzpaima – Subsea Project Manager
Hossein Asakereh – Mechanical Engineer
Mohammad Ashouri – Autonomous Driving Product Manager
Mitra Babak – Consultant
Dr Namdar Baghaei – Yazdi – Academic
Mansoureh Bakhtiar – Charity Committee
Mona Baradaran – Business Development Manager
Shahryar Barati – Managing Partner, Venture Capital
Yekta Bassari – Export Logistics Specialist
Haleh Blake – Director of Global Partnerships
Katereh Borhan – Director
Violet Ceniceros – Website Assistant
Danoob Dalili – Doctor
Daniel Dalili – Doctor
Heidi Darvish – Doctor
Lida Sadat Tabatabaei Dastjerdi – Dental Nurse
Shirin Dehghan – CEO
Ardeshir Diznabi – Financial Adviser
Shirley Elghanian – CEO
Alistair Mahdavi Esfahani – Chief Financial Officer
Gio Esfandeyari – Director
Jasmine Esmaeili – Psychologist
Nader Fallah – Medical Professional
Fariba Fourozanfar – Managing Director
Sourena Ghaffari – Director
Dr Vida Ghanaei – Managing Security Consultant
Marjan Giti – Dentist
Rasoul Golparvar – Consultant
Daryosh Gulparvar – Consultant
Shideh H – Director Business Development
Sara Hadipour – Director
Nika Hazini – Lawyer
Bita Heffernan – Divisional Manager
Anahita Hosseini – Consultant
Pouya Jabbarisani – Senior Frontend Developer
Amir Jamaly – Head of Revenue
Negar Janani – Managing Director
Mass Jeddi – Journalist
Javad Kabiri – Managing Director
Amir Hosein Kadkhodaei – Analyst
Bahar Kafaei – Dental Hygienist
Cyrus Kafian – Dentist
Keyhan Kahrom – Senior Associate
Hamid Kamali – Managing Director
Nadia Kamali – Highways Engineer
Amir Reza Kasraei – Senior Portfolio Manager
Kiyana Katebi – AI Consultant
Samira Kazemzadeh – Therapist
Fari Keshavarzi – Specialist Pharmacist
Sepideh Khosravani – Psychotherapist
Ramin Lakani – Partner
Mandana Lamb – Social Prescriber
Amir Layeghi – Managing Director
Sadaf Maddah – Nurse
Niaz Maleknia – Associate Lecturer
Leila Mansouri – Lawyer
Cyrus Mansouri – Lawyer
Nina Mir – Program Manager
Reza Mirdamadi – Airline Pilot
Maziar Mireskandari – Consultant
Atbin Arian Moayedi – Co-Founder, Venture Capital
Javad Moayedi – Medical Consultant
Farid Moeinifar – Principal
Behzad Mokri – Medical Director
Amir Moradi – Developer
Mr Alan Moshkar – Senior Medical Engineer
Tina Motaghizadeh – Therapist
Massod Mousavi – Doctor
Dr Mana Nademi – Dental Surgeon
Giselle Naimi – Trainee Solicitor
Mahbod Nia – Chief Executive Officer
Parinaz Nia – Interior Designer
Shahram Nikbakhtian – Head of Quantitative Trading
Mohammad Mahan Omidi – Biomedical Scientist
Poya Parsi – Technical Program Manager (Robotics)
Afshin Payravi – Political Analyst & Entrepreneur
Armaghan Aghaei Poursalimi – CEO
Kaveh Pouya – Project Delivery Manager
Kay Pouya – Senior RFP Writer
Keyvan Pouya – Auditor
Nadja Pouya – Associate
Iman Pouya – Associate
Kambiz Pouyamajd – Managing Director, Asset Management & Fintech
Farzam Rad – Chartered Accountant
Hossein Rafipoor – Researcher
Shay Rahimi – Team Manager
Alireza Rahnama – Chief Technology Officer
Roya Rahnejat – Growth Execution Manager
Em Rast – IT & Telecoms Specialist
Kasra Razi – Consultant Surgeon
Inaz Reshadi – Senior Client Relationship Manager
Nava Rohani – IT Specialist
Siamak S – Senior Credit Risk Analyst
Mahnaz Saba – Computer Scientist
Dr Iman Samizadeh – Executive Director
Hadi Sarmadi – Managing Director
Ali Sayyah – Director
Bahram Shaban – Construction Manager
Amir Shafiy – Consultant
Asal Shahi – Architectural Assistant
Shirin Shahidi – Attorney
Khashayar Shahmiri – Director
Hoda Shahzadeh – Director
Pegah Shirkavand – Architect
Sharan Tabari – Journalist & Media Consultant
Javad Taheri – Dentist
Hatef Tahmasebi – Chartered Accountant
Ali Taranssari – Entrepreneur
Haideh Tavackoli – Managing Director
Nazak Tavakoli – Dental Surgeon
Freddie Tazayoni – IT Consultant
Ramin Torabi – Digital Advertising Strategist
Pouyan Vista – Activist & Entrepreneur
Negar Yazdani – Lawyer
Bobak Yazdanpanah – Executive Director
Nahal Hossein Zadeh – Dental Nurse
Navid M Zadeh – Healthcare Professional
Soheil Zand – Managing Director
Piers Zangana – Director
Mehrnaz Zarafshar – Market Specialist
Hamidreza Zarifinia – Journalist & Researcher
Alireza Zolfaghari – Entrepreneur
This letter was coordinated by Kambiz Pouyamajd, Dr. Iman Samizadeh and Shahryar Barati, and is supported by over 130 Iranian professionals in the United Kingdom. The letter remains open to further endorsements.
