The exiled son of the last Iranian shah (king) has called on the world to help protesters topple Iran's government, saying he is confident the Islamic Republic will fall - not if, but when. Reza Pahlavi, a US-based opposition leader, called for a surgical strike on Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which he said would facilitate our task and prevent more loss of life. More than 2,000 protesters have been killed, according to human rights groups, in demonstrations that started over the economy on 28 December and turned into calls for the end of the rule of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei. The Iranian government has called the protests riots backed by Iran's enemies. Pahlavi has emerged as a prominent figure in Iran's fragmented opposition and has previously urged Iranians to escalate their protests. However, protesters have been met with deadly force by authorities, masked by a near-total shutdown of the internet and communication services. US President Donald Trump has warned Iran's government against killing protesters, telling demonstrators earlier this week that help is on its way. In an interview with CBS News, Trump said the US would take very strong action against Iran if it executed protesters. Additionally, the US and UK have reduced the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions. Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Pahlavi vowed to return to Iran and outlined a plan for a new constitution prioritizing individual liberties and democratic governance. The protests erupted initially over rising living costs and widespread discontent against Khamenei, with chants like Death to the dictator echoing nationwide. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,453 protesters have been confirmed dead since the unrest began, with many more arrests. "video_url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj2qgw8w08o"