More than 500 Iranian monarchists gathered at Place des Nations in Geneva, calling for a role in Iran’s democratic future for Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah.
Amid banners reading "Never trust the Communists and the Islamic Republic," demonstrators waved flags of Iran’s former imperial regime—overthrown in 1979—as well as Israeli flags, symbolizing opposition to the current Iranian leadership. One banner explicitly declared, “Reza Pahlavi for the democratic future of Iran.”
Pahlavi, who has lived in the United States for years, made a brief two-minute appearance, energizing the crowd. While in Geneva on Monday, he reiterated that he is not seeking political office but is prepared to oversee a transition if the Iranian regime collapses. He suggested that such a shift could happen "very quickly" if the West provides "maximum support" to the Iranian people, whom he believes desire an end to the religious government.
The Shah's rule was widely criticized by human rights organizations for suppressing political opposition. However, Pahlavi distances himself from his father's policies, advocating for fundamental freedoms and democracy in Iran. Photo by Ghazarians, Wikimedia commons.