Just hours prior to a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on the 24th of June, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s late shah, hosted a televised press briefing in the French capital. Donned in a grey suit and a blue tie, the 64-year-old exile appealed to the United States to refrain from providing a survival route to the Iranian government by resuming nuclear programme-related diplomatic negotiations. Pahlavi conveyed his conviction that the Islamic Republic of Iran was on the verge of collapse.
He encouraged ordinary Iranian citizens to utilize the conflict situation with Israel as an opportune moment to instigate protests, and urged for desertions within the country’s military and security sectors. However, the grand-scale protests that Pahlavi anticipated did not take place. On the contrary, numerous Iranians united under their national banner during the foreign aggression.
Pahlavi, in his Paris discourse, proclaimed himself ready to step into the shoes of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and guide the Iranian population towards a peaceful and democratic revolution. However, it appeared that Pahlavi misinterpreted public sentiment. While he was prepared to collaborate with Israel in the pursuit of his perceived objective: the removal of the Islamic Republic, the idea didn’t find favor among the majority of Iranians.
This lack of public support might have been accentuated by Pahlavi’s decision to refrain from criticizing Israel’s intense bombardment on Iran that resulted in the death of over 935 lives, many of whom were civilians. Pahlavi’s office remained unresponsive to request for comments regarding the matter.
While the expanse of Pahlavi’s appeal among the different generations is a point of disagreement, many analysts conclude it is not substantial. Despite some support for him, it’s often a reflection of opposition against the Islamic Republic combined with nostalgia for the preceding monarchy.
His aunt, who emigrated from Iran mere months before the 1979 revolution to pursue higher education, supports Pahlavi. She holds the belief that if he regained power, Iran would cease to be ostracized by Western nations.
The absence of any notable alternatives augmented Pahlavi’s appeal. His family was not a dynasty steeped in history. He was a military officer who rose to power in the 1920s, only to be replaced by Mohammad Reza in 1941.
Foreign intervention played a significant role in the events of 1953, when a coup was staged against Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. Mosaddegh had nationalized the assets of the Anglo-Persian oil company, now known as BP, in the spring of 1951. The coup was successful, leading to an additional 26 years of oppressive rule under Pahlavi.
The prevailing conditions under Pahlavi’s rule were characterized by brutal dictatorship, lack of democracy, state-directed repression, escalating economic disparities, and the shah’s growing disconnection from the realities faced by his own people.
Caught in the United States during the eruption of the revolution, Pahlavi was undergoing training as a fighter pilot. He was barely 17 and has not stepped foot in Iran since. Instead, he commenced a life in exile, with his predominant ambition being a return to his homeland and the reinstatement of his power.
In recent times, his speeches have centered on the concept of a secular democracy within Iran. He asserts that he harbors no aspirations for power, and would only agree to ascend the throne if such a request was made by the Iranian population.
His efforts to expand his base and partner with other detractors of the Iran government have faced obstacles. Certain groups have declined offers to collaborate while others who initially agreed, subsequently distanced themselves. Pahlavi’s perceived close ties with Israeli authorities have also marred his image.
His stance during the 12-day combat situation between Israel and Iran received negative responses. Many theorize that he remains detached from the sentiments and viewpoints within Iran considering he hasn’t been present in the country since his teenage years.
His refusal to denounce Israel’s bombarding of civilian targets has further eroded his support base. Many perceive him merely as a pawn for entities looking to legitimize their own antagonism towards Iran.
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