Monarchism in Iran

{{Short description|Political movement in post-revolutionary Iran}}

{{Short description|Political movement in post-revolutionary Iran}}

{{Monarchism in Iran}}

{{Monarchism in Iran}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}

[[File:Standard of the Shahanshah of Iran.svg|alt=|thumb|Personal Standard of the [[Shah of Iran]] before the 1979 Revolution: the [[Lion and Sun]] [[Flag of Iran]] in the canton with [[Emblem of Iran|Pahlavi Coat of Arms]] on a turquoise field ([[Turquoise (color)|turquoise]] is the colour of monarchists).]]

[[File:Standard of the Shahanshah of Iran.svg|alt=|thumb|Personal Standard of the [[Shah of Iran]] before the 1979 Revolution: the [[Lion and Sun]] [[Flag of Iran]] in the canton with [[Emblem of Iran|Pahlavi Coat of Arms]] on a turquoise field ([[Turquoise (color)|turquoise]] is the colour of monarchists).]]

'''Iranian monarchism''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: پادشاهی‌خواهی در ایران) is the advocacy of restoring the [[monarchy]] in [[Iran]], which was abolished after the [[Iranian Revolution|1979 Revolution]].

'''Iranian monarchism''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: پادشاهی‌خواهی در ایران) is the advocacy of restoring the [[monarchy]] in [[Iran]], which was abolished after the [[Iranian Revolution|1979 Revolution]].

In the months following the Revolution, former Field Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces [[Bahram Aryana]] organized a counter-revolution in exile. Based in [[Paris]], [[France]], with other military officials of the Imperial Armed Forces and Prince [[Shahriar Shafiq]], he established [[Iran Liberation Army|Azadegan]], a paramilitary resistance intended to help restore the constitutional monarchy. Fearing a growing counter-revolution, Prince Shahriar was assassinated in Paris in December 1979 by Khomeinist agents, which was a major setback for the monarchist resistance. Despite a number of successful operations which garnered international media attention in 1980 and 1981, the outbreak of war between Iran and [[Iraq]] officially brought any hope for counter-revolution to an end.

In the months following the Revolution, former Field Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces [[Bahram Aryana]] organized a counter-revolution in exile. Based in [[Paris]], [[France]], with other military officials of the Imperial Armed Forces and Prince [[Shahriar Shafiq]], he established [[Iran Liberation Army|Azadegan]], a paramilitary resistance intended to help restore the constitutional monarchy. Fearing a growing counter-revolution, Prince Shahriar was assassinated in Paris in December 1979 by Khomeinist agents, which was a major setback for the monarchist resistance. Despite a number of successful operations which garnered international media attention in 1980 and 1981, the outbreak of war between Iran and [[Iraq]] officially brought any hope for counter-revolution to an end.

In the 1990s and the decade following 2000, the Shah's reputation has staged something of a revival, with many Iranians looking back on his era as a time when Iran was more prosperous<ref>Molavi, Afshin, ''The Soul of Iran'', Norton (2005), p.74</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2004/5-020204.htm Iran Report] 2 February 2004</ref> and the government less oppressive.<ref>Sciolino, Elaine, ''Persian Mirrors,'' Touchstone, (2000), p.239, 244</ref> Journalist [[Afshin Molavi]] reports even members of the uneducated poor — traditionally core supporters of the revolution that overthrew the Shah — making remarks such as 'God bless the Shah's soul, the economy was better then;' and finds that "books about the former Shah (even censored ones) sell briskly," while "books of the Rightly Guided Path sit idle."<ref>Molavi, Afshin, ''The Soul of Iran'', Norton (2005), p.74, 10</ref>

In the 1990s and the decade following 2000, the Shah's reputation has staged something of a revival, with many Iranians looking back on his era as a time when Iran was more prosperous<ref>Molavi, Afshin, ''The Soul of Iran'', Norton (2005), p.74</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2004/5-020204.htm Iran Report] February 2, 2004</ref> and the government less oppressive.<ref>Sciolino, Elaine, ''Persian Mirrors,'' Touchstone, (2000), p.239, 244</ref> Journalist [[Afshin Molavi]] reports even members of the uneducated poor — traditionally core supporters of the revolution that overthrew the Shah — making remarks such as 'God bless the Shah's soul, the economy was better then;' and finds that "books about the former Shah (even censored ones) sell briskly," while "books of the Rightly Guided Path sit idle."<ref>Molavi, Afshin, ''The Soul of Iran'', Norton (2005), p.74, 10</ref>

The Crown Prince of Iran, [[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]], himself does not publicly advocate the restoration of his [[dynasty]], instead stating that the matter is for Iranians themselves to decide in a national referendum whether or not to restore the constitutional monarchy with the restoration of the House of Pahlavi.<ref>[http://www.rezapahlavi.com/articles/?english&id=52 Reza Pahlavi's Next Revolution: Successor Story, The New Republic, Franklin Foer, Thursday, January 3rd, 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221210613/http://www.rezapahlavi.com/articles/?english&id=52 |date=2007-02-21 }}</ref> However, the Crown Prince publicly announced his desire for western support in collapsing the current government of Iran, even suggesting himself as an interim leader for the new regime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tim |first=Ross |date=2025-06-23 |title=Iran's exiled 'crown prince' says he is ready to take over from Khamenei |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-exiled-crown-prince-country-back-ali-khamenei-reza-pahlavi/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-06-28 |work=POLITICO}}</ref> Additionally, a recently publicised email sent by British MP and suspected Mossad agent, Luke Akehurst, invites British MPs and Peers to a meeting on the 30/06/2025 where the Crown Prince will reveal his designs for collapsing Iran’s government in order to start a new regime.<ref>[https://x.com/AaronBastani/status/1938625721095561607 Political Commentator Aaron Bastani reveals Luke Akehurst email]</ref>

The Crown Prince of Iran, [[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]], himself does not publicly advocate the restoration of his [[dynasty]], instead stating that the matter is for Iranians themselves to decide in a national referendum whether or not to restore the constitutional monarchy with the restoration of the House of Pahlavi.<ref>[http://www.rezapahlavi.com/articles/?english&id=52 Reza Pahlavi's Next Revolution: Successor Story, The New Republic, Franklin Foer, Thursday, January 3rd, 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221210613/http://www.rezapahlavi.com/articles/?english&id=52 |date=February 21, 2007 }}</ref> However, the Crown Prince publicly announced his desire for western support in collapsing the current government of Iran, even suggesting himself as an interim leader for the new regime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tim |first=Ross |date=June 23, 2025 |title=Iran's exiled 'crown prince' says he is ready to take over from Khamenei |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-exiled-crown-prince-country-back-ali-khamenei-reza-pahlavi/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2025 |work=POLITICO}}</ref> Additionally, a recently publicised email sent by British MP and suspected Mossad agent, Luke Akehurst, invites British MPs and Peers to a meeting on the June 30, 2025, where the Crown Prince will reveal his designs for collapsing Iran’s government in order to start a new regime.<ref>[https://x.com/AaronBastani/status/1938625721095561607 Political Commentator Aaron Bastani reveals Luke Akehurst email]</ref>

==Monarchist political parties==

==Monarchist political parties==