Protests against the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have spread rapidly across Iran, driven largely by worsening economic conditions and growing public frustration with clerical rule. Demonstrations that began in Tehran among merchants have since expanded to more than 30 cities, including Qom, the religious stronghold of Iran’s ruling elite. Protesters have been openly calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and the restoration of the monarchy, raising slogans such as “Javid Shah” or “Long Live the Shah.” The movement has emerged as the largest wave of unrest since the 2022 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini, which also saw open support for the former royal family and its exiled heir, Reza Pahlavi.
The protests were initially triggered by severe economic hardship. Iran’s currency has sharply declined, with the rial trading at nearly 42,000 to the US dollar, while inflation has surged to more than 40 percent. What began as anger over rising prices and deteriorating living standards has now evolved into a broader political movement calling for an end to clerical rule. Protesters have been heard chanting slogans such as “Mullahs must leave Iran” and “Death to the dictatorship,” reflecting deep disillusionment with the current leadership. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad noted that the chants represent a clear rejection of the Islamic Republic and a desire for fundamental political change.
At the centre of this renewed wave of resistance is the re-emergence of the Shah’s legacy as a symbol of opposition. The slogan “Javid Shah,” once unthinkable in public discourse, has now become a rallying cry across Iranian cities. The Shah’s name, long associated with authoritarian rule before the 1979 revolution, has been reclaimed by protesters as a symbol of resistance against the current regime. The movement has drawn attention to Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah, who has publicly voiced support for the demonstrations.
Reza Pahlavi, born in 1960 in Tehran, is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last monarch of Iran. He was formally named crown prince in 1967 and has lived in exile in the United States since the Islamic Revolution. A strong advocate of liberal democracy, he leads the National Council of Iran, an opposition group based abroad. Pahlavi has consistently called for a peaceful transition of power through a free national referendum and has urged Iranians to unite against authoritarian rule. During the current unrest, he has encouraged demonstrators to continue their resistance and honour those who have died in pursuit of freedom, urging citizens to seize every opportunity to expand the movement.
The roots of the current political struggle trace back to the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The dynasty began in 1925 when Reza Shah Pahlavi took power after the collapse of the Qajar dynasty. He ruled until 1941, when Allied forces forced him to abdicate during World War II, passing power to his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Iran briefly experienced political pluralism after the war, but this ended in 1953 when Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup backed by the United States and Britain after attempting to nationalise Iran’s oil industry.
Following the coup, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled as an increasingly authoritarian monarch. His reign saw rapid modernization and close ties with the West, but also widespread political repression, economic inequality, and cultural alienation. The Shah’s secret police, SAVAK, brutally suppressed dissent, while his Westernisation policies angered religious leaders and traditional sectors of society. Economic downturns and growing dissatisfaction culminated in mass protests led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, ultimately resulting in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the collapse of the monarchy.
After the revolution, the Islamic Republic was established, and the Shah and his family fled the country. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi died in exile in Egypt in 1980. Initially, the new clerical regime enjoyed popular support, but over time it became increasingly authoritarian. Political repression, economic mismanagement, international isolation, and strict enforcement of religious laws gradually eroded public trust. Sanctions imposed due to Iran’s regional activities and nuclear ambitions further weakened the economy, pushing millions into poverty.
In the decades since, Iran has witnessed repeated waves of protests, including the 2009 Green Movement and the 2022 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Each uprising has been met with harsh crackdowns, arrests, and censorship. Yet the current movement stands out because of the scale of dissatisfaction and the re-emergence of open support for the Pahlavi legacy. For many Iranians, the failures of the Islamic Republic have made the monarchy appear, in retrospect, as a symbol of stability and national pride.
Today, with inflation soaring, unemployment rising, and freedoms tightly restricted, anger against the clerical establishment has reached new levels. The chants echoing across Iranian streets reflect not only economic despair but also a longing for political change. The slogan “Javid Shah,” once taboo, now represents a rejection of religious rule and a call for an alternative future.
Although the Iranian regime has survived numerous uprisings through force and suppression, the scale and tone of the current protests mark a significant shift. The growing popularity of Reza Pahlavi and the revival of monarchist sentiment suggest a deeper crisis of legitimacy for the Islamic Republic. Whether the current movement will succeed remains uncertain, but it has unmistakably transformed the political landscape, positioning the once-discarded Pahlavi legacy as a central symbol of resistance against Iran’s theocratic system.
