Reza Pahlavi

Reza Pahlavi (born 31 October 1960) is an Iranian political activist and dissident in exile in the United States. A member of the Pahlavi dynasty, he is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, and his wife, Empress Farah. He has been described as the most prominent figure in the opposition to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Born in Tehran, Reza Pahlavi was officially named Crown Prince of Iran at the time of his father's coronation in 1967. As a cadet of the Imperial Iranian Air Force, he moved to the United States for pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in 1978. The next year, his father was overthrown, and the monarchy was abolished by the Iranian Revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini. In 1980, following the death of his father in exile in Cairo, Egypt, Reza Pahlavi declared himself shah of Iran, styling himself "Reza Shah II", and actively participated in political activities opposing the Islamic Republic from abroad.

In 2013, he co-founded the Iran National Council (INC). Ideologically, he has expressed support for a democratic transition in Iran and has advocated for a referendum to be held in Iran to determine the nature of the future government. Pahlavi has repeatedly called for protests against the Islamic Republic and has called for the removal of the current regime from power. He has also advocated for Iran to become an ally of the Western world and Israel.

While many Iranians have voiced support for Pahlavi, his support among the entirety of the opposition remains unclear. He has been described as a prominent opposition figure during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, as an influential figure for supporters of the monarchy. However, others have described him as a polarizing figure, with some critics pointing out his reliance on foreign backing. Pahlavi has positioned himself as a potential transitional leader of Iran should the ruling Islamic government be toppled, emphasizing his aim to guide the country through a peaceful transition to a democratic system in which the Iranian people can freely choose their future government.