From his exile in the US, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran, has galvanised protesters in his home country, calling for them to continue demonstrating against the Islamic Republic.
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But Pahlavi is a divisive figure. As the heir of a violent authoritarian regime, his potential return is viewed suspiciously by some. Chants in his favour heard in the streets of Tehran and beyond may be less about support for the crown and more about him being seen as the only option to take people out of the country’s political ‘dead end’
Growing protests in Iran do not necessarily herald a return to monarchy ► https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/09/growing-protests-in-iran-do-not-necessarily-herald-a-return-to-monarchy
‘The world needs to know what’s happening’: families of protesters killed in Iran tell of heartbreak ► https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/15/iran-protesters-uprising-killed-world-diaspora-families-tehran-internet-blackout
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