As debate over Iran’s political future resurfaces with renewed urgency, one name has steadily moved to the centre of national and diaspora discussions: Reza Pahlavi.

One of the most telling observations comes not from monarchists, but from Abdollah Mohtadi, Secretary-General of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, who remarked that republican opponents of Pahlavi remain chronically divided and lack even a recognised spokesperson. Whatever one’s political orientation, the broader reality is difficult to ignore: Iran’s opposition has long suffered from structural fragmentation.

By contrast, Pahlavi’s name has increasingly appeared in public spaces inside Iran, from graffiti to stadium chants and, more recently, university campuses. Reports suggest that the intensity of pro-Pahlavi slogans during sporting events led authorities to hold matches without spectators. Whether one interprets this as momentum or symbolism, it indicates a presence that extends beyond digital activism.

The protests of 18 and 19 Dey [8 and 9 January 2026], called by Pahlavi, marked........

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