WORLD : Shah’s Son Sees Popular Revolt

WASHINGTON — Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran, predicted today that the Iranian military would be on the side of a popular uprising against the Islamic republic.

“If there is any armed process, the military will be definitely on the side of the people,” he said at a news conference at the National Press Club.

Pahlavi, who said he keeps in contact with all factions of the opposition inside and outside of Iran, said he expects that an overthrow of the fundamentalist rulers will come through a popular uprising rather than a military coup.

The demonstrations that have taken place this year in Tehran and other cities could be the start of a move to topple the government, he said. “It is beginning to reach the explosive stage.”