You're guessing wrong. They were ousted 100 years ago and have been in exile since then. The last recognized (or even simply recognizable) claimant spent his life as a barrister in Paris. As for their perceived trustworthiness in Iran, under the dynasty Iran descended from major power to plaything status, particularly in its last 50-60 years, when the Shah was de facto the governor of Tehran province. That's how a peasant like Pahlavi who rose through the ranks from private to brigadier general because he knew how to use machine guns effectively could become shah in the first place.
An interesting internal analysis was leaked to the Guardian. On the chanting the shah's name, it quoted this particularly eloquent summation by an anonymous person. “What is heard in the slogans today is not a call [to] return to the crown; it is an escape from a dead end. A society that has no way out retreats – not out of interest, but out of compulsion. This retreat is not a choice; it is the nervous reaction of a tired political body that no longer responds to prescriptions. “For decades, society was told to ‘wait’. It waited. It was told ‘it will be fixed’. It wasn’t fixed. It was told ‘it can’t get worse, it’s enough’. It got worse. Then they said ‘we have no alternative’. And this was precisely the moment when the street created its own alternative; not with classical rationality, but with the instinct for survival. “The monarchist slogan is not a declaration of love for Pahlavi: it is a declaration of disgust for the Islamic Republic. It is a cry of ‘no’ when no ’yes’ is available … Everyone is stuck in the past or in empty promises. When the horizon is empty, society looks back because it sees nothing ahead.”
Trump says Iran in 'big trouble,' US will 'get involved' if regime kills protesters | The Times of Israel “Iran is in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump told reporters in the White House when asked about the protests. “We’re watching the situation very carefully.” “I’ve made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved… That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts. We don’t want that to happen,” he continued. “This is something pretty incredible that’s happening in Iran… They’ve done a bad job. They’ve treated their people very badly, and now they’re being paid back,” Trump said. 48 protestors killed so far, wonder what kind of threshold he's working with.
The threshold of opportunity. If the opportunity for a one-and-done move that will irredeemably humiliate the regime presents itself, he'll take it but not otherwise.
Khamanei to Iranians on TV last this morning: "Saboteurs," "agents of foreign powers," "vandals," "traitors!" Iranians to Khamanei on the streets this evening: فرزندان دلاور ایران، در میان خون و آتش، و علیرغم تهدیدها و کشتارهای رژیم اشغالگر اسلامی، پرچم ملی و تاریخی کشورمان، شیروخورشید، را در قلب همدان، نخستین پایتخت تاریخی ایران، برمیافرازند.انقلاب ملی تا پیروزی نهایی ادامه داردو پرچم شیروخورشید برای همیشهی تاریخ در کشور هزاران… pic.twitter.com/jUgcRcwXnm— Saeed Bashirtash 🇮🇷 (@bashirtash) January 9, 2026 https://x. com/bashirtash/status/2009715270533763262
A few more days like this and we're in Eastern Europe 1989-91 territory. (FWIW I was there at the time and much of this is very familiar)
Live updates: Iran protests spread as authorities cut communications | CNN Trump doubles down on his pledge to come to the aid of the protestors, if the regime starts shooting. “And again, I tell the Iranian leaders, you better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too,” Trump said during a meeting with oil executives at the White House.
I don't think he stands a chance of returning to or retaining power. I know that Western media is reporting that his name is being chanted, but Trump isn't interested in meeting with him. The fact that an outlet like Al-Jazeera is indicating otherwise is a good sign that what you are reading in Western Media is coordinated propaganda. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026...crown-prince-pahlavi-would-not-be-appropriate
Isn't it possible that people can have similar ideas for their own reasons? After all, just by making an article about Pahlavi they showed a difference from the Trump stance, which is to deny him any recognition at all. Besides, it's pretty clear that - excepting Pahlavi himself - essentially no one, including the protestors, actually want him in charge. His name is just a metaphor for change.
'More Than 200 Reported Dead' in Tehran as Regime Opens Fire | TIME It's going to be hard to verify reports out of Tehran but TIME is saying the regime has started shooting and there are now mass casualties.
Looks like lots of Russian Il-76 transport aircraft have been visiting Tehran in the last few days. Only guesses as to why, but there are some in this article. https://ru-themoscowtimes-com.trans...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
We'll see if things tone down a bit. The Iranian weekend is on Thursday and Friday, and Saturday is a work day. But things may be approaching a head here, and people seem to be stocking up on supplies and extracting cash from banks. Credit and debit cards don't work because the internet is shut off.
The guys with guns here were quick to turn their guns towards their bosses. It does not look like this is the case here. The Basijis seem very fanatical and looks like they would kill everyone until they are literally stopped
Sadly, I think you are right. There are a lot of true believers in Iran’s “security” forces. This won’t fall quite like Assad & Syria.
Trump on Truth Social: Iran wants freedom, perhaps like it has never wanted before. The United States stands ready to help! Also Trump administration officials have had preliminary discussions about how to carry out an attack on Iran including what sites might be targeted, U.S. officials say - WSJ
I don't think you read the article. It's a summary listing of events and statements by players, no more and no different to what you'll find in the Guardian, the Times, the BBC, etc. Check your conspiracy theories at the door.
TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE: your long nightmare is soon coming to a close. Your bravery and determination to end your oppression has been noticed by @POTUS and all who love freedom. When President Trump says Make Iran Great Again, it means the protestors in Iran must prevail over… https://t.co/CapdTrbGhk— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 10, 2026 TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE: your long nightmare is soon coming to a close. Your bravery and determination to end your oppression has been noticed by @POTUS and all who love freedom. When President Trump says Make Iran Great Again, it means the protestors in Iran must prevail over the ayatollah. That is the clearest signal yet that he, President Trump understands Iran will never be great with the ayatollah and his henchmen in charge. To all who are sacrificing in Iran, God bless. Help is on the way.
There's a funny joke from the Cold War about a KGB agent and a CIA agent grabbing a drink. "I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says. "Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them." The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
He says that but... There was a time when Lindsey Graham was a credible person. That now seems like a very long time ago.
Watching France 24 just now. They're reporting that the IRGC have been seen deployed on the streets in Kermanshah in Kurdish Western Iran. The significance of that lies in the fact that the police and Basij militia are the forces for dealing with protest and unrest. The IRGC have been seen as the regime's last line of defence, only to be committed in an emergency. There are two possible explanations: 1) the regime fears imminent loss of control of a major city that's the administrative centre of the Kurdish region and, deep down, Kurds are separatists or 2) the rapid spread of the protests is creating localized manpower shortages. Either is very, very bad for the mullahs