Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran
He was the crown prince of Persia. He was at a flight school in Texas when the Pahlavi dynasty fell in 1979 and has lived in exile ever since. He has now resurfaced, and his efforts to position himself as the leader of a future Iran have provoked sometimes heated debates inside and outside the country.
At a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran is approaching two weeks of demonstrations at national levelthe country’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azadannounced that participants in the riots would be considered “enemies of God“.
In the statement, broadcast on Iranian state television, Azad said that even those who “helped the rebels” would face this charge, which carries the death penalty.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (), based in the United States, clashes between protesters and government security forces have already led to more than 500 deadincluding 490 protesters, and there are 10,600 detainees.
Among the most prominent supporters of the protests against the Iranian government is Reza Pahlavison of the former Shah of Iran, who has issued frequent messages of encouragement to protesters.
A current wave of protests in the country began on December 28, following a collapse of the national currencythe rial, currently trading at more than 1.4 million against the US dollar — more than 1.2 million riyals per euro. In April, the Iranian currency, which has been for years, was priced at “only” 43 thousand riyals per euro.
Em response to proteststhe government mobilized state-controlled media outlets, which have broadcast pro-government demonstrations, and security forces, which have harshly repressed “disorders” on the streets of Tehran.
Who is Reza Pahlavi
In the midst of these events, Reza Pahlavi, 65 years old, exiled crown prince and son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavihas re-emerged as a leading figure in the various Iranian opposition movements, says .
In messages shared on social media, Pahlavi urged protesters to continue their protests, and urged them to take to the streets with the old lion and sun flag of the country and other national symbols used during his father’s time to “reclaim public spaces” as yours.
Despite being born in Iran, Pahlavi has lived in exile for almost 50 years. Born in Tehran in 1960, he was the crown prince of the country until the fall of his father – who had also inherited his father’s throne, a army officer who seized power with the support of the British.
After having achieved take advantage of rising oil prices During the 1970s, the economic inequality had deepened during the rule of the last Shah, and his intelligence agency Savak became known for the torture of dissidents.
A Pahlavi dynasty ended in 1979when millions of people across the country participated in protests against the Shah, that united secular leftists, trade unionsprofessionals, students and a Muslim clergy led by a then emerging Ayatollah Khomeini — that the Shah had.
Reza Pahlavi had left his homeland to attend flight school at a US air base in Texas a year earlier, in 1978, and saw his father flee Iran during the beginning of what became known as the Islamic Revolutiona period during which Shiite clerics established a new theocratic government.
After his father’s death, on October 31, 1980, on his 20th birthday, a royal court in exile announced that Reza Pahlavi had inherited the monarchical role from Shah.
Pahlavi’s efforts to Position yourself as the leader of a future Iran have provoked sometimes heated debates inside and outside the country. Although the protesters have shouted support for the Shah in some protestsit is not clear whether this represents support for Pahlavi or a desire to return to an earlier time to the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
O Pahlavi’s public support for Israel has raised significant criticism from other members of the opposition, particularly after the 12 day war launched by Tel Aviv in June 2025.
Pahlavi has been looking have a voice through videos on social mediaand Farsi-language news channels such as Iran International have highlighted his calls for protests.
In press interviews, Pahlavi has repeatedly floated the idea of a constitutional monarchyperhaps with an elected rather than hereditary ruler — but said it was up to Iranians to choose.
It remains to be seen whether, once called upon to speak out, the Iranians would want to have a monarch again or would prefer an elected head of state — and, in that case, whether they would elect the Persian prince to the position.
