This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
As the 2022 Iranian uprising reached a critical turning point, with brave women and young people seemingly poised to consign the religious dictatorship to history, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, ramped up his travels across Europe – particularly in France – seeking to position himself as a political alternative. In doing so, he courted support from certain Western conservative circles, aiming to secure media visibility.
At the height of the uprising, while Iranians risked their lives for freedom, Pahlavi sought to insert himself into the narrative as a viable replacement for the regime. Yet, for those who had sacrificed everything in the fight against tyranny, a fundamental question arose: Was their struggle meant to culminate in the return of a figure with no history of resistance and no concrete vision for Iran's future?
In a recent interview, Pahlavi himself admitted he was unwilling to sacrifice his friends or his personal freedom in the U.S. for Iran. This statement only deepened skepticism about his commitment.
A political analyst close to the current theocratic Iranian regime wrote in his widely circulated doctoral thesis: "Monarchism is an opportunity for the Islamic Republic. Monarchists have no realistic path to power, and by fostering division within the opposition, they have provided an invaluable service to the regime."
A monarchic system in irreversible decline
Iran's monarchy, one of the world's oldest political systems, lost its legitimacy by the late Qajar era due to corruption, inefficiency and authoritarian rule. The 1906 Constitutional Revolution, inspired by the French Revolution, marked a shift toward a system based on popular participation.
Ultimately, the Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown in 1979 after decades of repression and economic mismanagement. The last Shah's exile and death – like those of his Qajar predecessors – symbolized Iran monarchy's irreversible historical collapse.
Ever since, for over four and half decades, Iranians have sought a democratic alternative, one rooted in justice and human rights. The slogans of the 2022 uprising – such as "Death to the Tyrant, Be It the Shah or the Mullah" – clearly illustrate the public's rejection of both the current theocracy and a return to monarchy.
A virtual movement without popular support
The influence of monarchists remains largely confined to social media and exile circles. They exploit the crises inflicted by the current Islamic Republic – poverty, repression and executions – to position themselves as an alternative. However, they ignore a fundamental truth: The Islamic Republic rose to power in 1979 largely due to the Pahlavi regime's systematic suppression of democratic forces.
As a former regime official recently admitted, "The infernal machine of SAVAK under the Shah paved the way for the Islamic Republic."
Even in exile, monarchists have failed to establish credibility as a political force. The collapse of the "Reza Pahlavi is my representative" campaign, which sought to position Pahlavi as the undisputed leader of the opposition, demonstrated the widespread rejection of his leadership within the Iranian diaspora.
Moreover, analysts point out that "Even Western nations opposed to the Islamic Republic have recognized this reality and place greater hope in the 'hypocrites' (a derogatory term used by the theocratic regime for its arch-enemies, the People's Mojahedin Organization) than in the monarchists to bring about its downfall."
The Iranian regime's role in promoting monarchists
A particularly striking phenomenon is the disproportionate online presence of monarchists. Given that some former Iranian intelligence officials are closely linked to Reza Pahlavi, legitimate questions arise: Are their financial and technical resources partially supplied from within Iran?
Additionally, the monarchists benefit from the vast fortune the Pahlavi family transferred abroad before their exile. However, rather than presenting a clear vision for Iran's future, they focus primarily on undermining other opposition groups.
Peace in the region, security in the world
For more than four and half decades, the Iranian regime has destabilized the entire Middle East through hostage-taking, terrorism and regional wars, including the ongoing Gaza crisis. This strategy has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and exacerbated global instability.
Now, as the Iranian regime faces its weakest moment – following the decline of its regional proxies and the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria – it seeks to compensate for its vulnerabilities by pursuing nuclear weapons. The international community must take this threat seriously and recognize the Iranian people's right to resist.
Feb. 8: The voice of the Iranian people in Paris
On Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, tens of thousands of Iranians will gather in Paris to demand that the international community recognize their right to resistance and support the establishment of a democratic and secular republic in Iran. Their vision: Just as the right of the French people to resist the Nazis was upheld, it is now time for the world to stand with Iranians in their fight for freedom.
They suggest that supporting the Iranian Resistance and its resistance units is the only path to ending dictatorship, securing peace in the region and ensuring global stability.
