A wave of nationwide protests, the most severe in years, has gripped Iran, forcing a fundamental and unresolved question back into the spotlight: what could potentially replace the Islamic Republic? The unrest, driven by a collapsing economy, political repression, and international isolation, has seen a familiar name resurface at the centre of this intense debate—Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and son of Iran's last Shah.
Protests, Pressure, and a Resurgent Royal Name
The demonstrations erupted after Iran's currency, the rial, plunged to a historic low of more than 1.4 million to the US dollar, triggering rampant inflation and making basic goods unaffordable for many. What began as economic anger swiftly transformed into a political uprising, with crowds openly chanting for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and its leadership.
Despite a near-total internet and communications blackout imposed by authorities, activists reported protests spreading across all 31 provinces of Iran. The crackdown has been severe, with dozens reported killed and thousands detained. Iranian state media blamed "terrorist agents" linked to the US and Israel, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned protesters would be "put in their place."
It was at this critical juncture that Reza Pahlavi stepped in decisively from his base in Washington. In video messages, he declared that mass turnouts had forced security forces to retreat and called for even larger crowds to further weaken the regime. "Iranians demanded their freedom tonight," he stated after the internet shutdown. He has urged Western leaders to help restore communications so the world can witness the events.
Videos circulating before the blackout showed protesters chanting "death to the dictator" and praising the Pahlavi name—acts that would have risked a death sentence just years ago. Supporters were heard yelling, "This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!" This signals not just fury at the current system but a deep-seated longing, whether real or symbolic, for the era before the 1979 revolution.
The Shadow of 1979 and the Pahlavi Legacy
The current moment is heavily shaped by the history of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Reza Pahlavi's father, Mohammad Reza Shah, fled Iran in January 1979 as protests spiralled into a full-blown revolution. The monarchy's rapid collapse was followed by the return of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from exile and the establishment of a theocratic state.
It is crucial to remember that the revolution was not initially an exclusively Islamist project. It was a broad, chaotic coalition of secular liberals, leftists, nationalists, and religious groups, united primarily by their opposition to the Shah's rule. Khomeini initially promised restraint and "Islamic democracy," but once in power, he moved swiftly to eliminate rivals and consolidate clerical rule.
Key events like Black Friday in September 1978, when security forces fired on protesters, and the deadly Cinema Rex fire, hardened public opinion against the monarchy. By the time many Iranians understood the full nature of the new Islamic Republic, it had already entrenched itself through force, propaganda, and religious symbolism.
Reza Pahlavi: Unifying Figure or Divisive Symbol?
Born in 1960 and declared crown prince as a child, Reza Pahlavi left Iran at 17 for US Air Force training just before the revolution. He has lived in exile since, advocating for non-violent civil disobedience, a secular state, and a referendum on Iran's future system of government.
He consistently presents himself as a unifying figure rather than a ruler-in-waiting, yet he also embraces royal symbolism and has spoken favourably of a constitutional monarchy model. Critics, however, argue he treats opposition leadership as a birthright, a stance that has contributed to fragmentation among exiled Iranian groups.
His growing ties with Israel, including meetings with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have added controversy. While some view this as strategic realism, others warn that any leader perceived as installed with Western or Israeli backing would struggle to gain legitimacy inside Iran.
For now, Washington remains cautious. While former US President Donald Trump warned Tehran against killing protesters and hinted at the regime's vulnerability, he stopped short of endorsing Pahlavi as the alternative.
A Squandered Opening and an Uncertain Road Ahead
The present unrest echoes the powerful "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising of 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. That movement mobilised millions but ultimately failed to coalesce around a single leadership or clear political roadmap. Many opposition figures believe divisions within the diaspora, including tensions surrounding Pahlavi's role, undermined its momentum.
Inside Iran, attitudes appear more fluid. Open praise for the Shah today does not necessarily indicate widespread monarchist sentiment, but rather a profound rejection of the current clerical rule. For numerous protesters, Pahlavi represents less a concrete political programme and more of a potent provocation—a reminder that the Islamic Republic is not eternal.
Yet history remains a formidable obstacle. The Shah's own regime was sustained by repression and the memory of the CIA-backed coup in 1953, which continues to shape Iranian political consciousness. Any attempt to revive the Pahlavi legacy must contend with that complicated past as much as with today's palpable anger and desire for change.
The protests mark the first major test of whether the Iranian public can be mobilised behind the Shah's son more than four decades after the revolution ended his family's rule. The outcome remains deeply uncertain, but the question of "what comes next" is now louder and more urgent than it has been in years.
