Who Is Reza Pahlavi? The Exiled Prince at the Centre of Iran’s Latest Protests

Protests flared across major Iranian cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, on Thursday night after Pahlavi issued a public call urging people to take to the streets. Large crowds poured out, chanting slogans and marching through the night and into Friday morning, according to reports by the Associated Press.

As demonstrations gathered momentum, protesters raised slogans against Iran’s clerical leadership. Chants such as “Pahlavi will return” and “Seyyed Ali will be toppled” — a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — echoed through neighbourhoods, highlighting growing anger against the ruling establishment.

Who is Reza Pahlavi?

Reza Pahlavi belongs to the Pahlavi dynasty that ruled Iran for over five decades before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He is the son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s last Shah, and Empress Farah Diba. Born on October 31, 1960, Reza was officially named crown prince in 1967 during his father’s coronation.

He received his early education at a private school within the royal palace and later travelled to the United States in 1978 for jet fighter training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas. However, months later, Iran’s monarchy was overthrown, forcing the Pahlavi family into exile before the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Reza Pahlavi later earned a degree in political science from the University of Southern California. During the Iran–Iraq War, he volunteered to serve as a fighter pilot for Iran, but the clerical regime did not permit his return.

According to his official website, Pahlavi describes himself as an advocate for a secular Iran, committed to freedom, democracy and human rights. He has authored three books on Iran’s past and future, including Gozashteh va Ayandeh, Winds of Change: The Future of Democracy in Iran, and IRAN: L’Heure du Choix (Iran: The Deciding Hour).

How Pahlavi’s call galvanised protests

The turning point in the latest wave of unrest appears to have been a video message released by Pahlavi on X, calling on Iranians to gather in the streets at 8 pm on Thursday and Friday.

As the hour struck, chants rang out across several Tehran neighbourhoods, witnesses told the Associated Press. Protesters shouted slogans such as “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!”, while others openly voiced support for the former monarchy, chanting, “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!”

Soon after, authorities reportedly cut off communications nationwide. “Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication,” Pahlavi said. “It has shut down the internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals.”

Pahlavi said he would outline further steps based on the public response to his call. While some demonstrators have chanted in support of the former Shah, it remains unclear whether this reflects direct backing for Reza Pahlavi himself or a broader longing for life before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

His past expressions of support for Israel have also drawn criticism, particularly following Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in June. Nonetheless, the scale of the response to his appeal has placed the exiled prince firmly back at the centre of Iran’s political conversation.