Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, has once again come into the spotlight amidst the protests taking place in the country. Pahlavi, who lives in exile, calls on people living in Iran to take to the streets on social media and openly declares his support for the protests against the current government.
He emphasized that despite the government cutting off the internet out of fear of the protests, people still took to the streets.
Reza Pahlavi also addressed US President Donald Trump, thanking him for his firm stance against the Iranian regime. Although the 65-year-old Pahlavi states his desire to play a role in shaping Iran's future, the level of his real support within the country is a subject of debate. Some see him as a potential figure for democratic transition, while others consider his long-term residence outside the country a serious drawback.
According to **Modern.az**, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, is currently the most prominent member of the Pahlavi family, which left the country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
He was born in Tehran in 1960. As his father had no male offspring from previous marriages, he was raised from childhood as the sole heir to the throne and prepared for monarchical rule by special tutors.
When the Islamic Revolution occurred in 1979, Reza Pahlavi was undergoing military pilot training in the USA. As a result of the revolution, his father's rule was overthrown, and the family left the country. He was forced to watch his father's severe illness and death in exile from afar.
Having maintained a cautious stance in political processes for a long time, Reza Pahlavi has attracted attention in recent years with more open and assertive statements. He presents himself not as a figure seeking the restoration of the monarchy, but as a proponent of democratic transition and national reconciliation for Iran. Pahlavi proposes that the future political system – whether monarchy or republic – be determined by a national referendum.
Despite living in exile, Reza Pahlavi attempts to influence processes in Iran, particularly during waves of protest, through social media.
He states that he rejects violence, maintains distance from armed opposition groups, and believes that changes should occur peacefully.
At the same time, critics emphasize that he has been unable to form real organization and a stable political base within the country.
At a press conference held in Paris in June 2025, he stated his readiness to lead a provisional transitional government in the event of the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Iran and unveiled a political roadmap for the first 100 days.
