Iran's future is neither the mullahs nor the Shah's legacy

Iran

Iran's future is neither the mullahs nor the Shah's legacy

Reply: Reza Pahlavi lacks grassroots support

This is a debate article. The writer is responsible for the opinions expressed in the text, not Aftonbladet.

Published 12.00

 

The Pahlavi dynasty's historical dependence on foreign powers has given rise to a strong dislike for Reza Pahlavi among many Iranians, writes the debater. Photo: Thomas Padilla / AP

DEBATE

REPLY. The Iranian regime is weaker than ever and faces an existential threat to its survival. 

In the midst of this tumult, Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah, presents himself as the self-proclaimed leader of the opposition. His father's 37-year rule was characterized by an iron fist, rampant corruption, widespread torture and executions.

On June 29, 2025, Pahlavi announced the launch of a secure communication channel for members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence personnel in  Iran who wish to join his team. The application form asks respondents to identify themselves and select the institution in which they work: the Army, Ministry of Intelligence, security forces, IRGC, Basij militia, or other state institutions.

Reza Pahlavis initiative to attract members of Iran' Ministry of Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guard to participate in his ”one-man show” has been met with significant criticism  and ridicule. The move has been dismissed by many Iranians at home and in the diaspora as a PR stunt and a desperate and pathetic attempt to gain relevance given his lack of support in Iran.  

Real political change in Iran will not be dictated from exile

Reza Pahlavi calls himself “the leader” and claims to have accepted the leadership role of the Iranian people in their struggle against the regime, as well as during a transitional period, without specifying who anointed him to this position. Some supporters go even further, proclaiming: “King Reza Pahlavi is the god of every Iranian.” The attitude of this self-proclaimed leader suggests an authoritarian mindset. He has repeatedly expressed nostalgia for his father’s dictatorship.

The Shah’s regime, which was characterized by censorship and torture via SAVAK, banned all political parties except his own in 1975, leading to thousands of political prisoners. During the 2022 protests, Iranians explicitly distanced themselves from both the current regime and a restoration of the monarchy. Slogans such as “Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the leader” were heard across the country, reflecting a widespread demand for democracy and a rejection of all forms of autocracy.

 

Iran’s future does not lie in the shadow of old thrones or turbaned tyrants. It lies in the hands of the Iranian people, writes the debater. Pictured is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: AP

Real political change in Iran will not be dictated from exile, but will be driven by the networks of activists, students, workers and women who risk their lives on the streets. Reza Pahlavi Lacks any organized support from the grassroots in Iran. Many in the Iranian diaspora underline this and no fact only about himself.

Pahlavi's strategy is based on the illusion that he can seize power with the help of the IRGC and foreign powers. However, this strategy is almost guaranteed to fail, given the extreme hostility that exists among the Iranian population towards anyone associated with the current regime. The Pahlavi dynasty's historical dependence on foreign powers has created a strong dislike for Reza Pahlavi among many Iranians.

Any way forward must reject both the oppression of the mullahs and the legacy of the Shah

His grandfather, Reza Shah, was brought to power by the British in 1921 and deposed by the British in 1941 for his links with Nazi Germany, after which his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was installed as Shah. In 1953, Mohammad Reza was briefly forced to flee Iran due to popular unrest, but a coup carried out by the CIA and MI6 in collusion with the clergy restored him to the throne.

Reza Pahlavi's monarchist aspirations, ties to SAVAK figures, willingness to collaborate  with the Revolutionary Guard, and lack of grassroots support in Iran make him an unsuitable  candidate for a democratic alternative to the mullah's regime. His vision reflects a return to previous authoritarian rule rather than a path toward the democratic future that Iranians deserve.

Iran's future does not lie in the shadow of old thrones or turbaned tyrants. It lies in the hands of the Iranian people – those who fight for democracy, for human rights and for a secular republic. Any path forward must reject both the oppression of the mullahs and the legacy of the Shah. To approach either is to step back into the darkness.

Abdolnaser Sadidi, human rights activist and chairman of the “1988 Massacre Relatives Association”

 

Iran’s future does not lie in the shadow of old thrones or turbaned tyrants. It lies in the hands of the Iranian people – those who fight for democracy, for human rights and for a secular republic, writes the debater. Photo: Private