STRANGE/ Report: Albanian government insists on being formed even when the country is not burning!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

Will the Pahlavi dynasty return to Tehran? Who is the exiled son of Iran's last monarch?

2026-01-11 19:30:12Histori SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of Iran's last monarch, at the center of protesters' calls

He has been in exile for nearly 50 years. His father - the Shah of Iran - was so hated that millions took to the streets in 1979, forcing him from power. However, Iran's Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, is trying to position himself as a player in his country's future.

Many demonstrators in Iran have called for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah (autocratic monarch), according to the BBC.

Pahlavi himself has called for people to take to the streets. So who is the former crown prince and how much support does he have?

Prepared from birth to inherit Iran's "Peacock Throne," Reza Pahlavi was training as a fighter pilot in the US when the 1979 revolution toppled his father's monarchy.

(“Peacock Throne” is the magnificent and jeweled imperial throne of the Mughal Emperors in India, famous for its luxurious design with two jeweled peacocks, symbolizing wealth, power and great craftsmanship, commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan, and later looted by the Persian ruler, Nader Shah in 1739, with its original form lost, but which inspired later monarchies.)

He watched from afar as his father, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi – once supported by Western allies – struggled to find refuge in another country – ultimately dying of cancer in Egypt.

The sudden loss of power left the young crown prince and his family stateless, dependent on an ever-shrinking circle of exiled royals and well-wishers.

In the decades that followed, tragedy struck the family more than once. His younger sister and brother took their own lives, leaving him the symbolic head of a dynasty that many critics thought had been consigned to history.

Now, at the age of 65, Reza Pahlavi is once again seeking a role in shaping his country's future.

From his home in a quiet suburb near Washington, supporters describe him as a low-profile and approachable person – a frequent visitor to local cafes, often accompanied by his wife, Yasmine.

In 2022, when a passerby asked him if he saw himself as the leader of Iran's protest movement, he and Yasmine reportedly replied in unison: "Change must come from within."

In recent years, however, his tone has become more assertive. After Israeli airstrikes in 2025 that killed several top Iranian generals, Pahlavi declared at a press conference in Paris that he was prepared to help lead a transitional government if the Islamic Republic were to collapse.

He has since drawn up a 100-day plan for an interim administration.

Pahlavi insists that this new faith stems from lessons learned in exile and from what he calls the "unfinished mission" left behind by his father.

"This is not about restoring the past," he told reporters in Paris. "It is about securing a democratic future for all Iranians," he added.

Born in October 1960 in Tehran, Pahlavi was the Shah's only son after two previous marriages failed to produce a male heir.

He grew up surrounded by privilege, educated by private tutors, and trained from a young age to defend the monarchy.

At the age of 17, he was sent to Texas to train as a fighter pilot. But before he could return to serve, revolution overthrew his father's rule.

Since then, Pahlavi has lived in the U.S. He studied political science, married Yasmine – a lawyer and fellow Iranian-American – and raised three daughters: Noor, Iman and Farah.

Disruptive legacy

In exile, Pahlavi has remained a powerful symbol for monarchists. Many remember the Pahlavi era as an era of rapid modernization and closer ties with the West.

Others recall a time marked by censorship and the fearsome "Savak" secret police, which was used to suppress dissidents and was known for human rights violations.

Over the years, his popularity within Iran has fluctuated. In 1980, he held a symbolic coronation ceremony in Cairo, proclaiming himself Shah.

Although it had little practical impact, some opponents said it undermined his current message of democratic reform.

He has made numerous efforts to build opposition coalitions, including the National Council of Iran for Free Elections, launched in 2013.

Most have struggled with internal disputes and limited reach within Iran.

Unlike some opposition groups in exile, Pahlavi has consistently rejected violence and distanced himself from armed factions such as the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK).

He has made repeated calls for a peaceful transition and a national referendum to decide Iran's future political system.

Controversial visit to Israel in 2023 polarized opinion about Pahlavi

Pahlavi has received attention in recent years. Chants of "Reza Shah, may your soul be blessed" - a reference to his grandfather - resurfaced during anti-government protests in 2017.

The killing of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022 sparked nationwide demonstrations, returning her to the media spotlight.

His attempt to unite Iran's fragmented opposition sparked international interest but ultimately failed to sustain momentum.

Critics argue that he has yet to build a stable organization or an independent media outlet after four decades abroad.

A controversial visit to Israel in 2023, during which he attended a Holocaust memorial event and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, further polarized opinion.

Some Iranians saw this as a pragmatic approach; others saw it as distancing Iran's Arab and Muslim allies.

After the recent Israeli airstrikes inside Iran, he faced tough questions.

In an interview with Laura Kuenssberg for the BBC, he was asked whether he supported Israeli attacks that endangered the lives of civilians.

He insisted that ordinary Iranians were not targets and said that anything that weakened the regime would be welcomed by many people inside Iran - a statement that sparked fierce debate.

Supporters and critics

Today, Pahlavi does not present himself as a king-in-waiting, but as a key figure for national reconciliation.

He says he wants to help lead Iran toward free elections, the rule of law and equal rights for women – while leaving the final decision on restoring the monarchy or creating a republic to a nationwide vote.

His supporters see him as the only opposition figure with a recognizable name and a long-standing commitment to peaceful change.

Critics have objected, saying he remained too dependent on foreign support and raised doubts about whether Iranians at home, weary after decades of political turmoil, would be willing to trust any leader in exile.

While Iran's government portrays him as a threat, it is impossible to gauge his true support without an open political space and reliable polls.

Some Iranians still honor his family name, others fear replacing one unelected ruler with another, even under a democratic guise.

The body of Pahlavi's father remains buried in Cairo, awaiting what the royals hope will be a symbolic return to Iran one day.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×