Who is the last Iran shah? If you wonder about this about, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is the last Iran shah. After him monarch was abolished.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, commonly known as Mohammad Reza Shah, served as the last Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from September 16, 1941, until his ousting during the Islamic Revolution on February 11, 1979. He was commonly referred to as the Shah due to his status. On October 26, 1967, he assumed the title Shahanshah, along with other titles such as Aryamehr and Bozorg Arteshtaran.
As the second and final monarch of the House of Pahlavi, Mohammad Reza Shah had a vision of creating a “Great Civilization” in Iran. This vision led to rapid industrialization, modernization of the military, and various economic and social reforms.
Mohammad Reza ascended to the throne during World War II after the Anglo-Soviet invasion, which resulted in the abdication of his father, Reza Shah Pahlavi. During his reign, the British-owned oil industry in Iran was temporarily nationalized by Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
However, a military coup supported by the United Kingdom and the United States ousted Mosaddegh, reinstated the Shah. Then returned control of the oil industry to foreign companies through the Consortium Agreement of 1954. The Shah subsequently became a prominent figure in OPEC. Played a role in the significant rise in oil prices that had a profound impact on Western economies.
His Early Years
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran to his parents, Reza Khan and Tadj ol-Molouk. His father, Reza Khan, went on to become the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty. Mohammad Reza was the eldest of eleven children, including his twin sister Ashraf. However, it’s important to note that neither Mohammad Reza nor his siblings were born into royalty. As their father did not become the Shah until 1925. Nevertheless, their father believed that his journey towards good fortune began in 1919. With the birth of his son, who was given the nickname “khoshghadam.”
During that time, it was common for Iranians not to have surnames. After the Persian coup d’état in 1921, which resulted in the removal of Ahmad Shah Qajar from power, Reza Khan was informed that he needed a surname for his family. As a result, he issued a law requiring all Iranians to adopt a surname. Reza Khan chose the surname Pahlavi, derived from the Middle Persian language, which in turn originated from Old Persian. On April 24, 1926, during his father’s coronation, Mohammad Reza was officially declared the Crown Prince.
Education
When Mohammad Reza Pahlavi reached the age of 11, his father, upon the recommendation of Abdolhossein Teymourtash, the Minister of Court, decided to send him to Institut Le Rosey, a Swiss boarding school, for further education. On September 7, 1931, Mohammad Reza left Iran and traveled to Switzerland.
During his early days at Le Rosey, Mohammad Reza had an incident that caused some conflict. He approached a group of fellow students sitting on a bench in a park outside the school and demanded that they stand to attention as he walked past, as was customary in Iran. This request didn’t sit well with an American student, who ended up getting into a fight with Mohammad Reza. This incident taught him that he couldn’t expect everyone to adhere to the same customs and traditions he was used to back home in Switzerland.
As a student at Le Rosey, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi participated in competitive football, although records indicate that his hesitation and fear of taking risks hindered his performance on the field. He received his education in French at Le Rosey, and this experience instilled in him a lifelong admiration for French culture. Mohammad Reza was the first Iranian prince in line for the throne to be sent abroad for education, and he remained in Switzerland for four years before returning to Iran in 1936 to complete his high school studies and obtain his diploma.
White Revolution
Mohammad Reza Shah introduced a series of reforms known as the White Revolution, with the aim of transforming Iran into a modern and influential global power. These reforms encompassed economic, social, and political changes, including the nationalization of key industries and the redistribution of land. The regime also emphasized Iranian nationalism, with Cyrus the Great becoming a prominent symbol of the country.
Under the Shah’s leadership, significant investments were made in infrastructure, and subsidies and land grants were provided to benefit peasant populations. Industrial workers were offered profit-sharing arrangements, and the construction of nuclear facilities was initiated. Natural resources were nationalized, and comprehensive literacy programs were implemented, gaining recognition as some of the most effective in the world.
The Shah also implemented economic policies such as tariffs and preferential loans to promote the growth of independent Iranian businesses. This led to a substantial increase in domestic manufacturing, including cars, appliances, and other goods, and fostered the emergence of a new class of industrialists who enjoyed protection from foreign competition. In 1973, the Shah further consolidated his power by passing the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
As a result of these reforms, Iran experienced decades of sustained economic growth, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing economies among both developed and developing nations. Over his 37-year rule, the Shah allocated significant funds to industry, education, healthcare, and the armed forces. The country achieved remarkable economic growth rates surpassing those of the United States, Britain, and France.
National income increased by a staggering 423 times, leading to unprecedented levels of per capita income and urbanization in Iran’s history. By 1977, the nation’s armed forces spending had elevated Iran to the status of the world’s fifth strongest military, a strategic move by the Muhammed Shah Pahlavi to safeguard against foreign intervention.
Years 1978-1979
In 1978, mounting political unrest reached a critical point, culminating in a popular revolution that resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy. The events leading up to this moment included the Jaleh Square massacre, in which the military’s actions led to the death and injury of numerous protesters, as well as the Cinema Rex fire in Abadan, which was wrongly attributed to SAVAK, the Shah’s intelligence agency. These incidents sparked widespread protests throughout Iran, making the Shah’s position increasingly untenable. The exact identity and motives of the true culprits behind the Cinema Rex fire, as well as their stance towards the Shah, remain unclear. Additionally, the Shah interpreted a meeting among Western leaders as a withdrawal of their support, further weakening his position. Eventually, on January 17, 1979, he left Iran and went into exile.