As anti-regime sentiments simmer in Iran, a familiar yet controversial figure from the past is making a modern political pitch.
WASHINGTON D.C.—In exile for over four decades, Reza Pahlavi is a man defined by a title he never officially held: King of Iran. The eldest son of the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, he was thrust into the role of dynasty-in-exile after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Today, as Iran faces profound internal crises, Pahlavi is recasting himself not as a monarch demanding a throne, but as a unifying figure for a potential democratic transition, stirring both hope and deep-seated controversy.
From Crown Prince to Dissident
Born in 1960, Pahlavi’s childhood was one of imperial privilege. Named Crown Prince at his father’s coronation in 1967, his world unraveled as a teenager. He was training to be a pilot in Texas when revolution swept Iran. The monarchy was abolished, and the Pahlavi family began a life of exile.
Following his father’s death in 1980, a 20-year-old Reza declared himself “Reza Shah II,” a symbolic move that committed him to a lifelong political struggle against the Islamic Republic from abroad, based first in Egypt and later in the United States.
A Shift in Messaging: From Monarchy to Democracy
For years, Pahlavi was the center of a nostalgic monarchist circle. However, his public stance has notably evolved. He now consistently advocates for a future determined by Iranians themselves.
“The most important thing I do… is to reinforce their voices. I don’t tell them what to do. I’m not a political leader,” Pahlavi told media in 2022.
His current platform calls for:
- A national referendum to choose Iran’s future government (republic or constitutional monarchy).
- A secular democracy that separates religion and state.
- A foreign policy aligned with the West, including normalized relations with Israel—a position that has drawn significant criticism from other opposition factions.
A Symbol on the Global Stage
Pahlavi remains a high-profile diplomatic player. He meets with Western lawmakers, speaks at think tanks, and in 2023 made a historic, controversial visit to Israel, praying at the Western Wall and meeting with top officials. He actively campaigns for Western governments to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Recently, after being disinvited and reinvited to the 2025 Munich Security Conference following reported pressure from Tehran, he used the platform to call for a united opposition front. “Our goal today is solely the salvation of Iran,” he stated, emphasizing a future “democratic path based on the people’s vote.”
The Million-Dollar Question: Does Iran Support Him?
This is the most debated aspect of his story. Within the large Iranian diaspora, particularly in communities like Los Angeles, visible support is strong. During recent global protests, tens of thousands have rallied under his image.
Inside Iran, the picture is murkier. While chants praising the Pahlavi era are sometimes heard at anti-regime protests—often met with counter-chants—direct support is impossible to measure under state repression. Some analysts argue he lacks a organized following inside the country, while others point to online polls and the bravery of those chanting his family’s name as signs of significant latent sympathy.
Critics, including many leftist and republican-minded Iranians, see him as inextricably linked to his father’s authoritarian rule and view his Western and Israeli ties as disqualifying. “He may have squandered the little support he once had,” one analyst noted regarding his stance during recent regional conflicts.
An Uncertain Future
Reza Pahlavi now positions himself as a potential guide for a transitional period, promising “lawful transition” and justice without the summary executions of 1979. He insists he does not seek long-term power, only to help usher in a vote.
Whether he is seen as the best hope to unify a fragmented opposition or a polarizing figure from a bygone era depends on who you ask. But as pressure on Iran’s theocracy mounts, the son of the last Shah is ensuring his voice—and his version of Iran’s future—remains part of the intensifying conversation.
