Manufacturing Reza Pahlavi: Backers and Motivations
Recent protests in Iran have highlighted Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of the Shah, who was overthrown in 1979. though, serious questions are also being raised about him and whether he is suitable for leadership. The most striking thing about Pahlavi is that he has a highly positive approach toward Israel and pro-Israeli, far-right Western politicians.
back in 2016, his exaggerated condolence message upon the death of Shimon Peres raised doubts about his judgment. Years later, in 2023, he took perhaps the most remarkable step and went to Israel, posing at the Western Wall with a kippa on his head. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel. Gamliel, while Israel’s 12-day War with Iran was going on, shared a message: “Next year in free Tehran!” When the latest protests started in Iran, she took a selfie wearing a hat with the words “Make Iran Great Again” and shared the picture, tagging Pahlavi, with the caption “Soon.”
Speaking at the 2024 Israeli-American Summit, Pahlavi emphasized solidarity between Israel, the U.S. and Iranians like himself in the face of Iran’s actions against Israel and the U.S. The Israeli American Council is a place that hosts the most ardent Zionists, like Miriam Adelson. Trump also gave a speech there that year.
In 2025, he attended the Conservative Political Action Conference, which was organized and attended by far-right and, therefore, mostly Israel supporters around the world.
During the 12 Day War, his wife, Yasmine Pahlavi, openly supported Israel’s attack on Iran in an Instagram post, despite civilians dying. Pahlavi also released a video following the Israeli bombing and implicitly called on his Iranian supporters to attack the regime together with Israel. The fact that he did not say a single word against Israel in the video, neither for the killed civilians, led to many reactions under his tweet.
Yasmine had previously expressed her belief that the concepts of “women, life, freedom” were represented by the Israeli female soldier in another Instagram post.
Who promotes Pahlavi?
Table of Contents
It appears that Pahlavi appeared most frequently on Fox News during this period. this channel is known for representing the far right in the U.S. and acting as a mouthpiece for israel.
Opinions promoting Pahlavi’s legacy are also published hear. In a recent piece, one of his supporters, Shahryar Oveissi, argued that the current movement yearns for Pahlavi.The column, which claims that most Iranians admire the U.S., also stated that if Pahlavi comes to power, Iran will become a close partner of Israel.
In the U.K., too, support for Pahlavi is seen among figures dedicated to Israel. Shadow Foreign Secretary priti Patel and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage met with Pahlavi in july. Since the protests began, they, Patel in particular, have tweeted extensively, to which Pahlavi’s side has expressed their gratitude.
Paul du Quenoy, a historian and staunch defender of Israel, openly advocated for the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy. Believing he has the overwhelming support of the people, Quenoy claims that this woudl be enough to make Iran great again. While he discusses how things improved in Spain with the return of the monarchy, he fails to comment on the vast differences between the two countries.
Simon Sebag Montefiore, another historian known for his staunch defense of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and his attacks on anti-genocide activists, a
Reza Pahlavi Faces Doubts About Popular Support in Iran
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled heir to the former Iranian throne, is encountering increasing skepticism regarding his ability to garner widespread support within Iran, even among some pro-Israel factions and Western media outlets traditionally sympathetic to his cause. Concerns center on a perceived lack of genuine popular backing and fears that his potential leadership could exacerbate internal conflict.
Limited Domestic Support
The extent of Pahlavi’s support within Iran appears limited, raising questions about his viability as a leader. Comparisons to figures like Ahmed Chalabi, who enjoyed U.S. backing in post-invasion Iraq but lacked popular support, are being drawn. Chalabi’s party received only 0.5% of the vote in the 2005 Iraqi elections, despite notable American support. This example highlights the potential disconnect between external backing and genuine domestic legitimacy. As noted in The Telegraph, a publication frequently enough aligned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s views, Pahlavi’s situation mirrors Chalabi’s in its reliance on external support without a corresponding base of popular support within Iran.
Western Media Skepticism
Even media outlets generally considered favorable to Pahlavi’s position are expressing doubts. Maziyar Ghiabi, Director of Persian and iranian Studies at the University of Exeter, is quoted in The Telegraph article stating, “If the regime falls and someone like Reza Pahlavi comes to power, that is the easiest route to internal conflict.” Moreover, Fox News,often characterized as a prominent platform for pro-Pahlavi narratives in Western media,acknowledges anti-Pahlavi sentiment among other Iranian dissidents in the diaspora and questions his support among protesters. This suggests a growing awareness within Western media of the complexities surrounding Pahlavi’s potential role in a post-revolutionary Iran.
Concerns About policies and Surroundings
Pahlavi’s associations and perceived policy leanings are also fueling concerns. Critics suggest he may be inclined to adopt both monarchical rule and oppressive policies, potentially mirroring the practices of his father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This raises fears of a return to authoritarianism and a suppression of dissent,further diminishing his appeal to a broad spectrum of iranian society.