Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, has become a focal point for protesters calling for his return to power in Iran. This resurgence of interest comes as Pahlavi himself urges people to take to the streets, raising questions about his role in the ongoing struggle for democracy in the country. Who is this former crown prince, and what level of support does he truly command among the Iranian populace?
Born in October 1960 in Tehran, Reza Pahlavi was groomed from a young age to inherit Iran's Peacock Throne. His childhood was marked by privilege, as he was educated by private tutors and trained for the role of a future monarch. At the age of 17, he was sent to Texas to undergo fighter pilot training. However, everything changed in 1979 when the Iranian revolution dismantled his father's monarchy. Watching from afar, Pahlavi witnessed his father, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, struggle to find refuge before ultimately passing away in Egypt from cancer. This abrupt loss of power left Pahlavi and his family stateless, relying on a diminishing circle of royalists and supporters in exile.
The years that followed were marked by personal tragedy for Pahlavi, as both his younger sister and brother took their own lives. This left him as the symbolic head of a dynasty many believed had faded into history. Now, at the age of 65, he is seeking to redefine his role in shaping Iran's future. Residing in a quiet suburb near Washington, D.C., Pahlavi is described by supporters as approachable and low-profile, often seen in local cafés with his wife, Yasmine, and without visible security. In 2022, when approached by a passerby about his aspirations for leadership within Iran's protest movement, Pahlavi and Yasmine reportedly stated, “Change has to come from within.”
In recent years, Reza Pahlavi's rhetoric has grown more assertive. Following a series of Israeli air strikes in 2025 that resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian generals, Pahlavi expressed his willingness to lead a transitional government if the Islamic Republic were to collapse. He has since put forth a 100-day plan for an interim administration. Pahlavi insists that this newfound confidence is rooted in lessons learned during his time in exile and the unfinished mission of his father. He emphasizes that his vision is not about restoring the past but rather about securing a democratic future for all Iranians.
Despite his royal lineage, Pahlavi's legacy remains divisive. While many remember the Pahlavi era as a time of rapid modernization and improved ties with the West, others recall it as a period characterized by censorship and the notorious Savak secret police, known for its human rights abuses. Pahlavi's popularity within Iran has fluctuated over the years. In 1980, he held a symbolic coronation ceremony in Cairo, declaring himself the shah, which, although largely symbolic, some critics argue undermines his current calls for democratic reform.
Throughout his exile, Pahlavi has attempted to forge opposition coalitions, including the National Council of Iran for Free Elections launched in 2013. Unfortunately, many of these initiatives have struggled with internal discord and limited outreach. Unlike some exiled groups, Pahlavi has consistently distanced himself from violence and rejected ties with armed factions such as the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), advocating instead for a peaceful transition and a national referendum to determine Iran's political future.
In recent years, Pahlavi has garnered renewed attention. Chants of "Reza Shah, may your soul be blessed," referring to his grandfather, emerged during anti-government protests in 2017. The tragic death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022 sparked nationwide demonstrations, further thrusting him into the media spotlight. While his attempts to unify Iran's fragmented opposition garnered cautious international interest, they ultimately failed to maintain momentum.
Some of Pahlavi's actions, such as a controversial visit to Israel in 2023, have polarized opinions. Attending a Holocaust memorial event and meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seen by some as pragmatic outreach, while others viewed it as alienating to Iran's Arab and Muslim allies. His remarks during a BBC interview regarding Israeli air strikes sparked fierce debate, as he suggested that weakening the regime would be welcomed by many inside Iran.
Today, Reza Pahlavi positions himself not as a king-in-waiting, but as a potential figurehead for national reconciliation. He expresses a desire to guide Iran towards free elections, the rule of law, and equal rights for women, leaving the ultimate decision about the monarchy or a republic to a nationwide vote. His supporters regard him as the only recognizable opposition figure committed to peaceful change, while critics argue he remains overly reliant on foreign backing and question whether Iranians, weary from decades of political turmoil, would trust an exiled leader.
While Iran's government portrays Pahlavi as a threat, gauging his true support is challenging without an open political environment and credible polling. Some Iranians still hold his family name in high regard, while others fear replacing one unelected ruler with another, even under the guise of democracy. As Pahlavi’s father's body remains buried in Cairo, awaiting what royalists hope will be a symbolic return to Iran, the question of whether the exiled crown prince will witness that day or a truly free Iran lingers—one of many unresolved questions haunting a nation grappling with its past.