Son of Iran's Last Shah Emerges as Leading Figure in Protest Movement to Reclaim Throne

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, has renewed his bid to regain the throne and is garnering support from an increasing number of Iranians, tired of living under the oppressive rule of the current regime. Pahlavi’s father was the “King of Kings” and a symbol of national pride, until he was toppled by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979. Since then, two generations of Iranians have grown up hearing stories of the horrors of the one-party state and the vicious secret police under the shah, but many Iranians feel that the ayatollahs’ regime is even more oppressive.

The opposition movement that emerged in Iran last September has grown in strength and has now pledged allegiance to Pahlavi. The footballer Ali Karimi, who has 15 million followers on Instagram, has also pledged his support, and opposition satellite channels are broadcasting interviews from the royal base in Washington DC. Even though Pahlavi has been absent from Iran for 44 years, he has become a symbol of hope for many Iranians who are yearning for change.

Pahlavi is not seeking power for himself. He believes it is up to the Iranian people to decide if they want a secular democratic republic, and if they do, he will support it. His ultimate goal is to help steer his people peacefully out of the current rotten religious dictatorship.

While Pahlavi has some support in Iran, his network within the country is limited, and he faces significant obstacles in his quest to overthrow the clerical order. Some question his dedication to the cause, pointing to his scuba-diving holiday during a wave of riots against the ayatollahs in 2019, when protesters chanted his name.

Despite these challenges, many Iranians still view Pahlavi as their “new Cyrus,” referring to the Persian emperor of 2,500 years ago. His growing popularity indicates a lack of alternatives in a country where widespread poverty, rigid social restrictions, and pariah status have left many yearning for change. However, it remains to be seen whether Pahlavi can mobilize enough support to achieve his ultimate goal of peaceful regime change in Iran.

In the meantime, Pahlavi is focused on demonstrating his commitment to the cause. He recently took the podium at an annual gathering of global leaders in Munich to discuss world security, and he is likely to continue building his network of supporters both inside and outside of Iran. Whether or not he will be successful in his bid to become the next king of Iran remains to be seen, but for now, Pahlavi’s efforts have reignited hope for change in the hearts of many Iranians.