Iran National Council


The Iran National Council, officially the Iran National Council for Free Elections, is a political umbrella group headquartered in Paris, France. It serves as part of the Iranian opposition to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with Reza Pahlavi acting as its spokesman. Pahlavi, who lives in the United States, is the former Crown Prince of Iran and is the son of the deposed Shah, and previously declared himself to be the new "Reza Shah II" in exile in 1980, following the 1979 revolution and the death of his father.
The "self-styled" National Council claims to have gathered the support of "tens of thousands of pro-democracy proponents from both inside and outside Iran". It also claims to represent religious and ethnic minorities, as well as monarchists and republicans. According to Kenneth Katzman, in 2017, the group which was established with over 30 groups in 2013 had suffered defections and its activity level appeared minimal.
Pahlavi has repeatedly rejected the idea of restoring the monarchy. Instead, he supports holding free elections to create a constituent assembly that will decide Iran's future government; whether that means bringing back the monarchy or creating a new republic.
In July 2025, over 500 members of the Iranian opposition gathered in Munich for the "Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran." The goal was to build a unified opposition and create a transition plan for a post-Islamic Republic Iran. The aim was to form a diverse and inclusive assembly, as Reza Pahlavi stated, representing various ethnic, religious, and political groups—including leftist, centrist, rightist, monarchist, and republican voices—working together on a shared agenda.
Politico called it "an unprecedented moment of unity among Iranian dissidents not seen in the 46-year rule of the ayatollahs' regime." A large number of attendees signed on to the final statement including foundational principles of:
  • Iran's territorial Integrity;
  • Protection of individual liberties and equality of all citizens;
  • Separation of religion and state; and
  • Iranian people's right to determine the future democratic form of their government.
A detailed Emergency Transitional Government Plan designed to oversee Iran's democratic transition was presented, which included a temporary executive team tasked exclusively with interim administrative duties until the establishment of a transitional government; a National Uprising Council envisioned as a strategic advisory and provisional legislative body until Iran's first freely elected parliament convenes; and Pahlavi's "personal commitment to remain outside formal political office, emphasizing his role as a facilitator of a democratic process."