Jerusalem Post columnist highlights the importance of Pahlavi legacy for Iran
In Iran, Middle East analyst Erfan Fard stated in a column for the Jerusalem Post that American media and politicians have historically misjudged the importance of the monarchy and the Pahlavi dynasty for Iranian society. The author contrasted the widespread perception in American political culture of royal power as a phenomenon incompatible with democracy with the historical role of shahs in Iran.
The author's view of the monarchy
Fard writes that in Iranian culture, the monarchy was associated with national unity, law, the protection of culture, and civilizational continuity. In his opinion, American political circles and media did not make sufficient efforts to understand Iran's tradition of monarchy during the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty before the 1979 revolution.
The author mentioned the celebrations marking the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great, held on October 12–16, 1971. According to him, the United States was represented at the event by Vice President Spiro Agnew. Fard also claims that the name of Reza Shah and the slogan “Javid Shah” — “Long live the Shah” — continue to be heard among supporters of the monarchy despite years of anti-monarchist propaganda by the Iranian authorities.
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Reza Pahlavi and the transitional period
The columnist calls Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a popular and influential political figure. He believes that Pahlavi could lead a transitional period in the event of the fall of the current theocratic system and help avoid a civil war. This is the assessment of the column's author.
Fard also states that Iran is experiencing a deep internal crisis due to poverty, resource shortages, public dissatisfaction, tighter security controls, and rising prices. In his opinion, the U.S. administration should support Iranians and meet with Reza Pahlavi as a representative of the opposition. The author predicts possible large-scale protests, but does not provide independent confirmation of these assessments in the column.
