The Chances of Restoration of Monarchy in Iran

[Cory]

Prince Reza would become a very good constitutional Monarch.

[Renata4711]

From what I remember from the Sixties, the Iranian monarchy was somewhat overblown, to say the least. But with the arrival of Farah Diba, things seemed to change, but clearly not fast enough.

However, anything would have been better than the current status quo.

[Lakshmi]

Maybe monarchy in Iran could be restored in similar way it happened in Spain in 1970s: as part of democratization where monarchy is a symbol of tolerance.

[NoorMeansLight]

I too believe Reza can lead his country to democratization, to full human rights etc. I like it that he doesn't seem to care about his imperial status, he seems serious and ready to change/modernize Iran and make it a better place for everyone. He can also deal with the foreign affairs much better than anyone. Iran deserves a pilot of quality after all these hardships and adventures, IMO.

[assia]

There is the question of the heir, Reza has only daughters and I am not sure that a woman can inherit the throne in Iran .

[MAfan]

According to the succession rules of the monarchy before the revolution, women can't inherit the throne; now the Heir is Reza's cousin, Prince Ali Patrick (son of the late Prince Ali Reza, younger brother of the last Shah).

[assia]

Are they in speaking terms ?

[MAfan]

I really don't know; are they supposed not to be?

[assia]

I don't know, just a question , it's just that we don't have any insight of their relationship.

[MAfan]

Ali Patrick was publicly very critical towards the regime of the Shah, but this was 30 and more years ago; I don't know if this has affected his relationship with his cousins and aunts (who on the contrary strongly defend the Shah's doings).

[NoorMeansLight]

MAfan, thanks for explaining here and at the other thread! This means Ali Patrick is now the 2nd in line to the Iranian throne (if there will ever be a restoration of the monarchy). So what else do we know about him? Does he have children? Where does he live etc.?

[MAfan]

Prince Ali Patrick has three sons: Prince Davoud, Prince Houd and Prince Muhammad Yunes.

I've found an interview with him, taken in 1992 for and Italian newspaper:
io, principe, dal trono alla galera
About his cousin Reza, he said: "My cousin Reza, pretender to the throne, who is not taken seriously by anyone. Nor he nor his family can hope to return to Tehran. They make people laugh. Their return, becoming an immovable fact, it would be more catastrophic that the current regime. It would bring back all their corruption and all their thirst for revenge. They would be like many Khomeini".
And about returning in Iran, he said: "For me, Iran is wiped off".

It's an old interview, and it's possible that meanwhile he has changed his mind, but it makes me think that it's rather unlikely that he'll work together with Reza for a restoration in Iran.

[NoorMeansLight]

Thanks so much for this unique, priceless piece of information!! Dear God, his words are so harsh that it's almost comical... With this character and attitude, it's not surprising at all that the majority of the Iranians seem rather indifferent to their former rulers - the Pahlavi dynasty generally.

[Biri]

And I understand him. It's frequent that a person who experienced so much harm, searches consolation in a religion. In some points he is right. Especially in one he agrees with Farah: Islamic Revolution had cheated these who had believed in it, including him.

And maybe it's unpleasant for Reza, but it's, alas, a fact: all the world governments recognize that Iran is a republic. The majority of Iranians who live in their country of origin, don't want to liquidate a republic, but only to change its character; like in the beginnning of French Revolution people wanted only to transform absolute monarchy into a constitutional one. But then a monarchy was regarded as normal and natural government system, and now a republic is regarded so.

And as for Ali Patrick, I am not suprised that he would not want go back to a country where so many wrong things met him.

[OneQuestion]

I always wondered two things.

1. Let's say that Iran would become a monarchy. We don't want it, but let's imagine it for a minute.Why the Pahlavi?Why not the Safvavids or Qajjars? Both of these have known heirs living today. Why of all the families does it have to be the Pahlavi family? They got kicked out of Iran twice.
2. They must be the only "dynasty" in the world that call themselves, Princes and princesses. Usually it ends when they lose their country. Not even the Ottoman noble families or the last Sultan called himself a Sultan. What's up with that?

[Cory]

The youth in Iran have a good idea about the restoration of the Imperial Family on the Throne?

[Cory]

Which are the main royalist iranian groups in the exile?all of them recognize Prince Reza Shah as Pretender?

[AristoCat]

The one thing I think led to the monarchy being tossed out (among other things) is taht the Shah kept marrying, divorcing, and then remarrying. It's unstable and I do not think that it was unreasonable to at that point be disgusted with the behavior of the Shah, and then either want him to straighten up or ship out. It's the same wiht other royal families, their beahvior became so unstable and out of control, that the 'subjects' got sick and tired of it, the constant scandals and the constant switching of who they were supposed to bow to. Second, why should they automatically respect someone just because the leader married her? The Shah likely did not think of his people when he (supposedly) proposed to a then little known actress called Grace Kelly. IF there is ever a restoration, there would have to be substantial reform and strict rules governing a lot of the choices that the restored dynasty would have to follow.

[Cory]

The marriages of the late Shah has nothing to do with what happened in 1979.A possible restoration could be made under the ledership of Prince Reza Shah.

[ChristopherWales]

Iran still has a type of Shah or Emperor its the Ayatollah.