FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Iranian Americans in South Florida say their families back home recognize only one potential new leader for Iran.
At a rally on Sunday, demonstrators chanted the name of former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as they called for political change in their homeland.
For several weeks -- even before the latest conflict involving Iran -- supporters in South Florida have been gathering to demand a new direction for the country.
Within the last hour of a gathering, participants said reports emerged that the son of Iran’s longtime leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been named to take over after Khamenei was reportedly killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli airstrike nine days ago.
Before that reported decision, President Donald Trump had already said Khamenei’s son would not be a choice to lead the country.
Many demonstrators in South Florida say they would only support Pahlavi.
Rally organizer Orusha Asharafy said supporters believe Pahlavi is committed to the Iranian people.
“I know he believes in the Iranian people and he’s mentioned 1,000 times that he wants to make Iran great again,” Asharafy said. “Based on that, he supports the Iranian people.”
The rally remained peaceful. Organizers say they plan to continue demonstrating until Iran becomes a democratic nation.
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