Rayan Amiri
Rayan Amiri | |
|---|---|
رایان امیری | |
 Amiri in 2026 | |
| Born | Amir Muhammad Amiri July 2, 1995 Razi Hospital, Qaem Shahr, Mazandaran province, Iran |
| Citizenship | Exiled, political refugee, stateless |
| Occupation | Political organizer |
| Organization | Conservative Party of Iran |
| Title | Founder, Party leader |
| Movement | Iranian opposition, Iranian Monarchism, Iranian nationalism, Civic Nationalism, Conservatism, Secularism, Constitutionalism in Iran, Pahlavism |
Rayan Amiri Savadkouhi[1] (Persian: رایان امیری سوادکوهی, Persian pronunciation: [ɾɒːjɒːn æmiːɾiː sævɒːdkuːhiː], born Amir Muhammad Amiri[2], Persian: امیرمحمد امیری, July 2, 1995), commonly known as Rayan Amiri is an Iranian monarchist, civic nationalist, and conservative political activist, organizer and founding leader of the Conservative Party of Iran in exile. Amiri is an advocate for the dissolution of the current Islamic Republic in Iran and the restoration of Iran's constitutional monarchy under Reza Pahlavi.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Early and Personal Life
[edit]Rayan Amiri Savadkouhi was born Amir Muhammad Amiri on July 2, 1995, at Razi Hospital in the city of Qaem Shahr (also known as Shahi), Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, to a realtor father and a schoolteacher mother. He is from Savadkuh, the birthplace of Reza Shah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, and was raised there. [2]
Amiri wears sunglasses due to a rare eye condition.[5] He has stated that he suffered from rickets during childhood and later developed osteomalacia, as well as weak eyesight, photophobia, and persistent ptosis. He has described growing up in poverty following his father's business went bankrupt and has said that he experienced periods of homelessness while studying and working in Tehran. At around age 16, he says he converted to Zoroastrianism and changed his name from Amir Muhammad to Rayan. At 18, he left Iran to study electrical and electronic engineering abroad before returning to Iran.[2]
I come from Savadkuh, a mountainous region surrounded by the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, the homeland of the Pahlavi Dynasty and of Reza Shah the Great, the founder of modern Iran. Those forests shaped our identity as Savadkouhis, Mazandaranis, and Iranians. Today, much of them have disappeared under corruption, incompetence, and destruction.
My family history is deeply tied to Iran’s modern history. My great-grandfathers served as military officers during the late Qajar and early Pahlavi eras. Members of my family fought insurgents and separatists in northern Iran during Reza Shah’s state-building campaigns. Others later became diplomats, military officers, and government officials under the Pahlavi state before being forced into exile after 1979.[2]
He has described his family as having historical ties to the late Qajar and Pahlavi periods, including ancestors who served as military officers, diplomats, and government officials. According to Amiri, members of his family were later forced into exile following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Amiri has said that he grew up in difficult economic circumstances and experienced health problems during childhood. He has also described becoming critical of the Islamic Republic after the arrest of his younger sister by the Islamic republic regime's morality police for not wearing the compulsory hijab, when she and he were teenagers. In his account, he subsequently adopted the name Rayan and converted to Zoroastrianism, which he said led to scrutiny and persecution by regime authorities.[2]
Political Activism
[edit]
Rayan Amiri became involved in opposition activism during the 2010s. He has said that attending protests and gatherings associated with the Pahlavi dynasty influenced his political views. Beginning in the late 2010s, he operated social-media platforms promoting anti-regime and pro-monarchist content and participated in protests, including demonstrations in 2016 Cyrus the Great Revolt, 2017–2018 Iranian protests, 2019–2020 Iranian protests, and 2022-2023 Mahsa Amini protests. During the nationwide protests in Iran in late 2025 and early 2026, Amiri said he participated in demonstrations in Mazandaran Province and documented events through social media. He later reported that he was sought by Iranian security forces and went into hiding before leaving Iran for Turkey.[2][5]
Following his arrival in Turkey, Amiri continued his political activism from exile. In March 2026, he founded the Conservative Party of Iran (CPI), an Iranian opposition organization based in exile. The party's founding documents advocate secular nationalism, constitutional government, and the restoration of a constitutional monarchy under the Pahlavi dynasty, while stating that Iran's future system of government should ultimately be determined through a referendum. Amiri has described the CPI as an umbrella organization intended to bring together Iranian conservatives, monarchists, and civic nationalists. Its proposed political program includes a free-market economic model and closer relations between Iran and Israel. Amiri has also reported receiving threats from individuals whom he believes are associated with the Islamic Republic regime in Iran. NewsNation reported his allegations that Iranian-linked individuals attempted to arrange meetings with him in Turkey. Amiri has continued political organizing and advocacy from exile.[2][3][4]
Amiri was involved in organizing protests his home province of Mazandaran, during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests in Iran. He documented the demonstrations and subsequent violence by security forces, with footage he recorded being published by international news outlets and shared on social media with his videos receiving tens of millions of views on western media news outlets and social media. Amiri said that he witnessed protesters being killed during the uprising.[5]
Following the protests, Amiri said that he went into hiding after learning that security forces were searching for him and subsequently fled Iran for Turkey. He said that he left the country after being informed that individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were tracking him.[5]
In interviews with international media, Amiri expressed support for the military actions by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic in Iran, describing them as a form of humanitarian intervention. He also criticized Trump's statements of the time, in May 2026, that Iran had already undergone regime change, arguing that the regime's political leadership remained in place.[5] Amiri in May 2026 criticized the Trump Admin for continuing negotiations with the Islamic Republic regime in Iran, which he accused of providing misleading information about executions in Iran. Amiri said he was “worn down” by what he described as the United States treating Iranian dissidents and protesters as leverage in negotiations with the regime. He also disputed statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a decrease in executions in Iran, saying that such claims had been repeatedly contradicted by events.[13]
Amiri described witnessing IRGC forces firing on unarmed protesters in Sari, Mazandaran Province, during the January 2026 protests and said he recorded footage of the incident, which he later shared with NewsNation. He also later criticized Donald Trump for what he viewed as insufficient U.S. support for Iranian protesters and characterized the Islamic Republic regime's response to the January 2026 demonstrations as a "genocide", which he said targeted a specific group of people, namely Iranian monarchists, pro-Shah and pro-Pahlavi Iranians in general. Amiri also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for encouraging Iranian protesters to confront regime institutions without, in his view, providing sufficient support. He said that the lack of assistance contributed to tens of thousands of deaths during the regime's crackdown, which he characterized as a "genocide." Amiri argued that protesters had been encouraged to continue confronting the authorities but were subsequently left without the promised support, saying that "executions were being done" and that hundreds of protesters had been executed already. He said Iranians had a right to be angry over what he regarded as the failure to fulfill promises of help and assistance by the U.S. President Donald Trump.[12]
In a March 2026 op-ed article, Amiri characterized the Islamic Republic as employing "psychological warfare, propaganda, and false-flag operations" to influence public opinion, manufacture fear, and deflect responsibility for attacks and military failures. He argued that the regime's propaganda relies on portraying itself as a victim and attributing violence to its opponents. Amiri also criticized Western media for what he described as insufficient scrutiny of the regime's state narratives and presented the growth of opposition to the Islamic Republic in Iran, particularly support for "Reza Shah Pahlavi II and a constitutional monarchy", as evidence of a broader political shift among Iranians.[7]
Conservative Party of Iran
[edit]_Logo.jpg){kind=logo}
In March 2026, Amiri announced the formation of the Conservative Party of Iran (CPI), an Iranian opposition party established in exile. The announcement included a founding declaration, a political manifesto, and a draft constitution comprising 83 articles outlining the party's proposed framework for the governance of Iran following the end of the Islamic Republic.[3]
The party's founding documents advocate the restoration of a constitutional monarchy under the Pahlavi dynasty, while stating that Iran's future system of government should ultimately be determined through a free national referendum. Amiri has described the CPI as an umbrella organization for Iranian conservatives and monarchists, with provisions for internal political pluralism through multiple conservative factions. Its draft constitution establishes a party leader, a National Conservative Congress, a Central Council, and other internal oversight bodies. It also grants the founding leader additional powers during the party's initial period, which Amiri has described as temporary and intended to maintain organizational stability until a permanent constitution is adopted.[3]
The party's manifesto advocates a free-market economy, including monetary stabilization, privatization of state-owned enterprises, deregulation, reduced tariffs, simplified taxation, and stronger property rights. Its foreign-policy platform calls for the restoration of diplomatic relations and closer ties between Iran and Israel. Amiri has also expressed support for a transitional government following a potential collapse of the Islamic Republic and said that the party would support the implementation of existing opposition proposals for such a transition under the leadership of Reza Pahlavi.[3]
In its founding statement, the Conservative Party of Iran (CPI) describes itself as a political movement advocating secular civic nationalism, national unity, and a Pahlavi-led constitutional monarchy. The party identifies the conflict between Shi'ite clericalism and the monarchical institution as a central theme of modern Iranian political history and presents itself as opposed to Islamism, separatism, ethnic tribalism, Marxism, and other forms of ideological tribalism, forced-collectivism and fragmentation. Its stated political framework, referred to as the Pahlavi Doctrine, emphasizes secular democracy, rule of law, individual freedoms, national sovereignty, modernization, and economic prosperity. The CPI expresses loyalty to Reza Pahlavi as its proposed national leader and to the Pahlavi monarchy as an institution of national continuity. It also advocates an interest-based foreign policy, regional stability, and the reintegration of Iran into the international community.[6]
Assassination threats
[edit]In April 2026, Amiri told NewsNation that he had received what he described as “obvious and direct threats of assassination and intimidation” from individuals he said were associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He said that individuals had approached him while claiming to represent American and Israeli allies and had attempted to arrange an in-person meeting in Ankara, which he declined. Amiri further said that he believed he was being followed in western Turkey and attributed the alleged targeting to his political activism, including his opposition to Islamism, support for Israel, and advocacy for Reza Pahlavi. NewsNation has obtained corroboration of Amiri’s claims. [4]
Amiri said that he remained active on social media and that Iranian authorities monitored his activities. He also said that he would be willing to return to Iran clandestinely and unconventionally to assist opposition forces and described the Conservative Party of Iran, which he founded in exile, as a vehicle for lobbying foreign governments in support of political change in Iran.[4]
Amiri has publicly criticized the Islamic Republic's treatment of dissidents and argued that it uses threats and punishment to discourage criticism. In an interview with NewsNation, he said that Iranian authorities sought to discredit activists and commentators by accusing them of working for foreign intelligence agencies and that dissidents abroad faced the risk of imprisonment or assassination. Amiri cited the killings of Masoud Molavi and Saeed Karimian as examples of Iranian dissidents or critics who were assassinated in Turkey. He has also alleged that he was targeted by individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after leaving Iran following the January 2026 protests. Amiri has described the January 2026 protests as having resulted in extensive casualties. He claimed that approximately 260 children were killed and that the overall death toll of the January 2026 Uprising was more than 50,000 protesters being killed by the regime.[14][15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Amiri, Rayan (6 March 2026). "THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF IRAN (CPI)". X (formerly twitter). Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Why I Fled Iran After Leading Pro-Shah Protests". Visegrád 24. 22 May 2026. Archived from the original on 10 September 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Winston, Alex (6 March 2026). "Iran's exiled conservatives launch party, building blueprint for a post-regime monarchy". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 13 September 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Falzone, Diana (24 April 2026). "Political refugee says he is a target of Iran assassination plot". NewsNation. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oseran, Ariel (29 April 2026). "'They are getting prepared for the next uprising,' Iranian activist tells i24NEWS". i24NEWS. Archived from the original on 14 September 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- 1 2 Amiri, Rayan (5 March 2026). "Iran's future under Pahlavi: The Conservative Party's plan for unity and stability - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- 1 2 Amiri, Rayan (26 March 2026). "False flags, psychological warfare: How Iran's regime deceived the world for 47 years - opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 14 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Iran's 'pharmaceutical mafia' making access to life-saving drugs nearly impossible". NewsNation. 12 June 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian singer sentenced to 74 lashes for revealing hair during concert". NewsNation. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Iranians 'censored and scared' as regime surveils internet use". NewsNation. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Iran regime will 'continue killing' under US deal, refugees say". NewsNation. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- 1 2 "'It was genocide': Iran militants killed protesters, cleaned up evidence, refugee says". NewsNation. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Iran refugees have lost hope in Trump, US after 'we won' comment". HRANA. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ Falzone, Diana (24 August 2026). "'Atmosphere of fear': How Iran regime's threats isolate people from outside world". NewsNation. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ Dubey, Vivek (25 August 2026). "'Jailed or killed': How Iran is silencing citizens as internal tensions mount". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
