Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi: The Last Shah of Iran

Early Life and Education

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was born on October 26, 1919, in Tehran, the eldest son of Reza Khan (later Reza Shah Pahlavi) and his second wife, Tadj ol-Molouk. As crown prince, he received an education befitting a future monarch, attending Le Rosey, an elite boarding school in Switzerland, from 1931 to 1936.

His time in Switzerland exposed him to Western culture, democracy, and modernization, experiences that would profoundly influence his vision for Iran. Upon returning to Iran, he entered the Tehran Military Academy, graduating as a second lieutenant in 1938.

Accession to the Throne

Mohammad Reza became Shah on September 16, 1941, at just 21 years old, following the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran and his father's forced abdication. The young Shah inherited a nation occupied by foreign powers and stripped of much of its sovereignty.

The early years of his reign were marked by political instability and limited royal power. The Majles (parliament) and various political factions wielded significant influence, and the young Shah had to navigate between British, Soviet, and later American interests while building his own power base.

The Mossadegh Crisis and 1953 Coup

The defining crisis of the Shah's early reign came in 1951-1953 with the rise of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the nationalization of Iran's oil industry. The popular Mossadegh challenged both British oil interests and royal prerogatives, reducing the Shah to a largely ceremonial role.

In August 1953, a CIA and MI6-backed coup (Operation Ajax) overthrew Mossadegh after an initial failed attempt that briefly forced the Shah to flee to Rome. The Shah's return marked the beginning of a more authoritarian phase of his rule, as he worked to ensure such challenges to his power would never recur.

The White Revolution

In January 1963, Mohammad Reza Shah launched the "White Revolution" (Enghelab-e Sefid), an ambitious program of social and economic reforms designed to modernize Iran and undercut potential communist influence. The program eventually encompassed 19 points:

• Land Reform: Breaking up large estates and distributing land to peasant farmers.
• Nationalization of Forests: Bringing natural resources under state control.
• Profit Sharing: Workers received shares in industrial enterprises.
• Women's Suffrage: Granting women the right to vote and hold office.
• Literacy Corps: Sending young people to rural areas to combat illiteracy.
• Health Corps: Extending medical care to rural areas.

The White Revolution transformed Iranian society, creating a new middle class, expanding education, and changing traditional power structures. However, it also created dislocations and alienated powerful groups including large landowners and the Shia clergy.

Economic Boom and Oil Wealth

The 1973 oil crisis and subsequent quadrupling of oil prices brought unprecedented wealth to Iran. The Shah used this windfall to accelerate industrialization, expand the military, and pursue grandiose development projects. Iran's GDP grew at remarkable rates, and Tehran became a modern metropolis.

The Shah envisioned Iran becoming the world's fifth industrial power by the year 2000. He invested in nuclear energy, built modern infrastructure, and expanded higher education. The imperial court became increasingly lavish, culminating in the extravagant 1971 celebration of 2,500 years of Persian monarchy at Persepolis.

The 1967 Coronation

Although Mohammad Reza became Shah in 1941, he delayed his formal coronation until October 26, 1967, his 48th birthday. By then, he felt his achievements warranted the ceremony. In a magnificent celebration, he crowned himself and his third wife, Farah Diba, as Shahbanu (Empress), the first Iranian queen to be crowned in modern history.

The coronation showcased the grandeur of the Pahlavi court and the Shah's vision of Iran as heir to the great Persian empires of antiquity. The crown jewels, including the legendary Kiani Crown and the Pahlavi Crown, were displayed in all their magnificence.

Growing Opposition and Revolution

Despite economic progress, opposition to the Shah's rule grew throughout the 1970s. The SAVAK secret police suppressed dissent, but grievances accumulated: rapid modernization disrupted traditional society, inflation eroded living standards, corruption spread, and political freedoms remained restricted.

Religious opposition, led by the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, gained strength by framing the Shah's modernization as an assault on Islam and Iranian identity. Leftist groups, nationalist movements, and liberal reformers, though divided among themselves, united in opposition to the monarchy.

In January 1978, protests erupted following a government-published article attacking Khomeini. The demonstrations escalated throughout the year, culminating in massive marches in December. On January 16, 1979, Mohammad Reza Shah left Iran, never to return.

Exile and Death

The Shah and Empress Farah wandered in exile, initially to Egypt, then Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the United States for cancer treatment. His admission to the U.S. triggered the Iran hostage crisis when students seized the American embassy in Tehran.

Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi died of cancer in Cairo, Egypt, on July 27, 1980, at the age of 60. He was given a state funeral by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and is buried at the Al-Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo.

Legacy

Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's legacy divides opinion. His supporters point to rapid modernization, economic growth, women's rights, and Iran's emergence as a regional power. His critics emphasize political repression, cultural alienation, inequality, and the circumstances that led to revolution.

As the last Shah of Iran, he represents the end of 2,500 years of Persian monarchy, a tradition stretching back to Cyrus the Great. His reign remains a subject of intense historical debate and nostalgia among many Iranians both in Iran and the diaspora.