The son of Iran’s former shah has emerged as a leading figure encouraging protesters in the recent wave of anti-government demonstrations, despite residing outside Iran since the late 1970s. Reza Pahlavi, often portrayed negatively by Iranian state media, has utilized social media and Farsi news channels like Iran International to amplify his support for protests and denounce repression.
In a recent interview with CBS News, Pahlavi called on U.S. President Donald Trump to take action in support of Iranian protesters. While Trump expressed willingness to back Iranians facing security force violence, he remained uncertain about meeting with Pahlavi. Pahlavi clarified that he responded to the people’s call for external support and emphasized the importance of a successful uprising.
Advocating for a secular and democratic Iran, Pahlavi’s influence within Iran, where he has not been present for years, is challenging to assess accurately. Some protesters have expressed support for him in social media videos, chanting slogans like “Long live the shah,” indicating a degree of resonance with his messages. Others demand political reform and economic stability amid ongoing unrest.
Pahlavi has consistently called for change during periods of upheaval, such as the 2009 election protests and the 2022 nationwide demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini. Proposing a constitutional monarchy with electoral mechanisms, Pahlavi stresses the people’s right to determine the country’s future governance, advocating for an end to the current theocratic regime.
Born in 1960 and anointed crown prince in 1967, Pahlavi left Iran in 1978 for military training in the U.S., preceding his father’s exile a year later. Subsequently assuming the shah’s role in 1980, he has actively engaged in political discourse from exile, attracting support from the diaspora and advocating for change in Iran’s leadership.
Despite his alignment with Western allies like Israel and the U.S., Pahlavi faces challenges in garnering official backing from foreign governments. His stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions and repression has not translated into substantial international support, underscoring the complexities of his political advocacy.
