Netflix is working on new series will explore the life of Iran’s last monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Spanning over four decades, The Last Shah will begin with the Shah’s rise to power during World War II and continues until the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent US embassy hostage crisis.
Few figures in modern history embody the paradox of power and downfall as dramatically as Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. His rule was one of grand ambitions, sweeping reforms, and extravagant wealth, yet it ended in exile, revolution, and a legacy steeped in controversy.
For nearly four decades, he reigned over Iran with a vision of modernization and Westernization, transforming the country into a regional powerhouse. However, his increasingly authoritarian grip, deep ties to Western powers, and alienation from his own people sowed the seeds of his undoing. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution ousted him, replacing his monarchy with the Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini—a seismic event that reshaped the Middle East and global geopolitics.
How did a king who once commanded one of the world’s richest nations lose it all? This is the story of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi—his rise, his reign, and his fall.
The Making of a King
Born on October 26, 1919, in Tehran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the eldest son of Reza Shah Pahlavi, a military officer who founded the Pahlavi dynasty after overthrowing the Qajar monarchy in 1925. His father was a man of iron will, determined to modernize Iran by force, imposing secularism and reducing the power of the clergy and tribal leaders.
Mohammad Reza’s childhood was shaped by both privilege and strict discipline. He was sent to Switzerland at the age of 11 to study at the prestigious Le Rosey boarding school, where he became fluent in French and English and was heavily influenced by European ideals, particularly nationalism, secular governance, and military strength.
However, his path to the throne came sooner than expected. During World War II, the British and Soviet forces occupied Iran in 1941, fearing his father’s growing ties with Nazi Germany. Reza Shah was forced to abdicate, and the 22-year-old Mohammad Reza Shah was suddenly elevated to the throne.
Young and inexperienced, he initially ruled as a constitutional monarch, balancing his authority with Iran’s elected parliament. However, his ambitions for absolute power soon became apparent.
The Rise of an Imperial Vision
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Mohammad Reza Shah sought to modernize and Westernize Iran, expanding infrastructure, military strength, and economic development. However, his ability to govern freely was challenged early on by the popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, a nationalist leader who advocated for Iranian sovereignty over its oil industry, which had long been controlled by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) (later BP).
In 1951, Mossadegh nationalized Iran’s oil industry, enraging Britain and the U.S., who feared losing access to its vast petroleum resources. This led to a major political crisis, culminating in the **CIA- and MI6-backed coup d’état known as Operation Ajax in 1953. Mossadegh was overthrown, and the Shah, who had briefly fled Iran, returned with absolute power.
With the support of Washington and London, he began consolidating his rule:
- Political opposition was crushed, with many leftists, nationalists, and Islamists arrested, exiled, or executed.
- The secret police, SAVAK, was expanded to monitor, intimidate, and eliminate dissent.
- Oil revenues soared, fueling a massive expansion of infrastructure, military, and industry.
- Iran became a major ally of the United States, receiving billions in military aid and arms.
By the 1960s, he launched his most ambitious modernization project: The White Revolution.
The White Revolution: Modernization at a Cost
In 1963, the Shah introduced the White Revolution, a sweeping series of reforms aimed at rapid modernization. The reforms included:
✅ Land reform, redistributing land from feudal landlords to peasants.
✅ Women’s rights expansion, including suffrage and access to education.
✅ Nationalization of forests and pastures, promoting environmental reform.
✅ Industrial growth, incentivizing foreign investments and factories.
✅ Literacy and health programs, improving the general population’s quality of life.
The White Revolution was heavily promoted as progressive and modern, and it won praise from the West. Iran’s GDP soared, its cities expanded, and a growing middle class emerged.
However, the reforms alienated key groups in Iranian society:
- Traditional landowners and clergy resented the weakening of their power.
- Poor rural farmers saw little improvement in their living conditions.
- Middle-class professionals felt that corruption and Western influence overshadowed genuine progress.
- The religious establishment, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, opposed secularization and Westernization.
Khomeini became the Shah’s most vocal critic, denouncing the regime’s corruption, repression, and alignment with the West. In 1964, he was arrested and exiled to Iraq, and later France, where he continued spreading revolutionary messages.
While the Shah saw himself as a modernizer, his heavy-handed suppression of dissent would eventually prove to be his downfall.
The Peacock Throne and Its Shadows
One of the most extravagant moments of the Shah’s reign came in 1971, when he celebrated 2,500 years of Persian monarchy with an opulent festival at Persepolis. The event was attended by world leaders and elites, featuring:
- Imported French cuisine (over 5 tons of caviar were flown in).
- Luxurious tents made with silk and gold-threaded fabrics.
- A 3-hour fireworks display that illuminated the ancient ruins.
While international guests marveled, ordinary Iranians were outraged. The lavish display of wealth, at a time when much of the country still struggled with poverty, only widened the gap between the ruling elite and the people.
At the same time, the SAVAK’s brutal crackdown on dissent increased. Thousands of political prisoners were detained, tortured, or killed, silencing any opposition.
By the late 1970s, the Shah had turned Iran into an economic giant—but his iron grip on power, unchecked corruption, and neglect of public discontent made his downfall inevitable.
The Fall: 1979 Iranian Revolution
By 1978, Iran was in turmoil. A mix of economic recession, inflation, and public resentment ignited protests across the country. Strikes paralyzed industries, and millions flooded the streets demanding the Shah’s resignation.
Despite attempts at reform, the tide had turned against him. In January 1979, as protests reached their peak, the Shah fled Iran with his family, never to return.
On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran, greeted by millions. Within days, the monarchy collapsed, and the Islamic Republic was born.
Exile and Death: The End of a Dynasty
In exile, the once-mighty Shah became a political pariah. The U.S., fearing backlash from Iran’s new government, refused to offer asylum. He moved between Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Panama, before Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat granted him refuge.
Suffering from advanced cancer, the Shah spent his final days in isolation. He died on July 27, 1980, in Cairo at the age of 60. He was buried in Al-Rifa’i Mosque, alongside exiled Egyptian royals.
Legacy: A King Loved and Hated
Today, Iran remains divided on Mohammad Reza Shah’s legacy. His supporters see him as a visionary who modernized Iran, empowered women, and built a powerful nation, while his critics remember him as a brutal dictator who crushed democracy, enriched the elite, and silenced dissent. But whether viewed as a reformer or a tyrant, one thing is clear: The last Shah of Iran was a ruler who changed history, but in the end, history changed him.
