Iran’s self-proclaimed crown prince faces backlash after supporting Israel
Reza Pahlavi’s critics say his royal ambitions and links to Israel weaken his credibility as a pro-democracy advocate
Reza Pahlavi’s Credibility Erodes Amid Israel Alignment and Misreading of Iranian Sentiment Just hours before a ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24, Reza Pahlavi the exiled son of Iran’s last shah held a press conference in Paris, urging the U.S. to halt any nuclear diplomacy with Tehran and declaring the Islamic Republic's collapse imminent. Framing the moment as Iran’s "Berlin Wall," he called on Iranians to rise up. But the anticipated mass protests never occurred.
Instead, even many of the Islamic Republic’s critics rallied around their nation in the face of Israeli strikes, which killed over 900 people. Pahlavi’s failure to condemn the Israeli attacks drew widespread backlash. Critics argued that by aligning with Israel, he alienated the very people he claimed to represent.
Trita Parsi, an Iran analyst, asserted that Pahlavi’s tacit defense of Israeli strikes “destroyed much of the brand name of the shah,” especially among those mourning civilian casualties.
While some diaspora supporters are drawn to the nostalgia of Iran’s pre-1979 monarchy, others especially younger generations view Pahlavi as politically unclear and out of touch. Some, like British-Iranian Yasmine, say support stems more from symbolism than substance.
Pahlavi’s past attempts to unite the opposition have also faltered. His insistence on leadership without consensus led to the collapse of the 2023 Alliance for Democracy and Freedom in Iran, which included Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and other prominent activists. His monarchist backers often clashed with others, accusing critics of being “leftists” or “anti-shah.”
In April 2023, Pahlavi made a controversial visit to Israel posing with Prime Minister Netanyahu and touring the Western Wall actions seen by many Iranians as deeply disconnected from national sentiment. Despite the symbolic weight, he failed to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a sacred site for Muslims, reinforcing perceptions of his detachment.
Analysts like Sina Toossi and Barbara Slavin describe Pahlavi as increasingly irrelevant, manipulated more by Israeli interests than driven by genuine popular support. His association with groups advocating aggressive U.S. policies toward Iran further damaged his standing.
While Pahlavi has shifted from outright monarchism to advocating secular democracy, his rhetoric and alliances have left many skeptical. As Parsi noted, “Israel doesn’t believe he’ll rule Iran they just use him to justify their aggression.”
For many Iranians inside and abroad his call for insurrection during Israeli attacks crossed a line. As Yasmine bluntly put it: “He was asking Iranians to do his dirty work.”
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