Is the Islamic Republic of Iran afraid of Reza Pahlavi? - analysis
Since Jauary's protests, the Islamic Republic’s media have worked hard to discredit Pahlavi, suggesting Tehran still believes that convincing Iranians not to follow him is worth the effort.
Since millions of Iranians filled the streets in January, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi repeatedly surfaced as a prominent protester. The exiled royal, son of the former Shah Mohammad Reza, faced skepticism from some outside the country about his leadership potential and suitability as an alternative leader to Iran's mullahs. US President Donald Trump questioned Pahlavi's ability to lead a post-regime Iran.
Despite residing far from Iran for over four decades, one major player appears concerned about Pahlavi's standing among ordinary Iranians and the potential impact on the regime. Iranian state-aligned media have repeatedly questioned Pahlavi's ability to mobilize people in Iran, unite the opposition, undermine his standing among ethnic and religious minorities, and exploit issues related to Iranian sovereignty for political gain.
Tehran's judiciary has even indicted him on various offenses, while security establishment figures portray the January uprising as a foreign attempt to overthrow the Islamic Republic.
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