Kind of insane to be one of the main critics of a regime that is known for issuing global fatwas and assassinating dissidents while also having a pretty subpar security team. Dude is incredibly lucky it was just paint.
26
Kooky-Tiger-1371Apr 23, 2026
-4
The regime is evil but not stupid. Assassinating Pahlavi will make people only more angry and fuel more protests.
-4
KesobabaApr 23, 2026
+11
protests doesn't do anything in iran.
11
JanglesApr 23, 2026
+5
Also it legitimises his claim.
Better to act like he just doesn't matter
5
Upset_Albatross_9179Apr 23, 2026
+8
Not clear to me they would want him dead. The chance the monarchy ever returns to power is basically zero. But the current regime loves to romanticize their revolution against the monarchy, and he's a living artifact of that.
So long as the monarchy is around, idiots will drag them into most any conversation about Iranian regime change. And the current regime would prefer to be seen as fighting against the western supported monarchy than almost anything else.
8
suddenstutterApr 23, 2026
+54
Ru op.
54
Major_WaylandApr 23, 2026
+36
Wait a minute, are you saying that this descendant of the last Iranian monarch - who was so hated by his people for his brutality that literally almost all local factions united in the revolutionary movement against him - couldn’t still be pretty unpopular? Sure.
36
EmperorOfNipplesApr 23, 2026
+41
Many parts do.
To many others he is a Figurehead against the Islamic Republic.
Iran is a country and diaspora of deep contrasts.
41
LuminaL_IVApr 23, 2026
+17
Brutality? Loooooool
He imprisoned people in his whole reign than IRGC kills in a year.
Gwt your facts from real Iranians you will see how generations who lived then loved him or not
Javid shah
17
Major_WaylandApr 23, 2026
-19
Sorry, but I'm not going to buy a story about misunderstood benevolent monarch when there was a millions of people wanting him out.
-19
LuminaL_IVApr 24, 2026
+3
Dont care what you want to believe, we Iranians know our history and country and thats enough
3
Racer20Apr 24, 2026
+12
Millions of people love Donald trump for some inexplicable reason. I don’t know enough about Reza or Iranian history to have a strong opinion, but your logic is really flawed.
12
MissPandaSlothApr 24, 2026
+1
There are right now millions of people who want Merz gone. Does that mean that Germany under him is so awful? They also don't want Merz to be replaced by literal Stalin either.
1
Major_WaylandApr 24, 2026
-7
These millions, unlike whose under Shah, are not desperate enough to start a revolution.
-7
MissPandaSlothApr 24, 2026
+1
Most people are not "desperate enough to start a revolution", including in Iran prior to 1979. Though most of history it's been done by minorities and sometimes it's pure chance. Sometimes people are happy what comes after, sometimes not.
1
phantom-firionApr 23, 2026
+26
Only ones that hate him are religious extremists, terrorists, and the children of irgc and other high ranking Iranian officials who live comfortably in the west and benefit from their daddies stealing from and murdering their own people.
26
ithinkimtimApr 24, 2026
+5
The *only* ones that hate a monarch are extremists? Okay. People hate monarchs as a concept, even the very best of them.
5
MissPandaSlothApr 24, 2026
+9
Lmao, why did you intentionally changed topic?
Like the guy says most people don't hate HIM literally Pahlavi, individually, not a concept. And it's true. Most Iranians dgaf about him, many see him as a symbol of resistence. Outside of government royalty there really isn't some "f*** the shah's son" movement.
Then you go "oh really, what about hating monarchy as a CONCEPT"?
You really think that people, whose girls are murdered in streets by morality police, are hating on a dude under whose dad country was objectively better, because "oh have you considered that monarchy is unfair"?
Some people are so out of touch.
9
ithinkimtimApr 24, 2026
-4
Sorry but it’s completely absurd to think the only ones against the old Iranian monarchy are extremists and direct members of the irgc. Total wishful thinking.
-4
MissPandaSlothApr 24, 2026
+2
It's 99% true. Okay there is one guy Bob for whom it's not the case, what an important distinction.
Most Iranians dgaf about Shah. Most of current population haven't even been born or been kids when his dad ruled. It's not some big boogeyman in Iran. Quite the opposite. A lot of people who did lived remember life being better under him in every regard. Economically, civil rights, freedoms, everything.
Again, the biggest negative from general population is indifference.
Pahlavi himself has no monarchy ambitions. In his ideal he wants to form transitional government if the regime falls and move to secular government. Why would anyone hate on that who isn't a religious cultist? Do you think Iranians are stupid?
2
goozy1Apr 24, 2026
+4
He was only hated by the rubes and rural morons. Anyone with half a brain cell knew all the progress he made for the country
4
DarthGaderApr 23, 2026
-146
He's cheering on strikes on his own people. Both sides have taken notice of it with raised eyebrows. How on Earth is this an Ru op?
-146
HardlyW0rkingHardApr 23, 2026
+67
You're really oversimplifying the situation. That's not how I would describe his role in all this. At all.
67
kblkbl165Apr 23, 2026
-48
Western puppet just like his daddy, that’s his role. Let’s check how popular daddy govt. was.
It was so liked it made IRGC popular. lol
-48
Mister-SnapApr 24, 2026
+6
In fairness, the irgc has had plenty of time to show that they are undoubtedly far worse. The sheer number of their own people they slaughtered should be the beginning and end of any debate
6
MissPandaSlothApr 24, 2026
+1
It's like Hungary's Orban vs. actual Stalin. Hell, I would say even Orban was less popular than Shah.
I mean that one guy is corrupt and shit, but the other one is Stalin.
1
HardlyW0rkingHardApr 23, 2026
+30
Why do you think his dad was a western puppet when he caused oil shortages in the late 60’s with his move to create OPEC?
He raised prices of oil and when western interviewers asked him about it he responded by saying it’s the same reason US raised their grain prices. These are all on record. You just have to look it up.
Just because he allowed free trade with western countries, doesn’t mean he was a puppet.
30
hurdurnotavailableApr 23, 2026
+25
You may not like it, but more than half the country of Iran is in favor of rezas transition plan for democracy according to the only reliable polling in Iran (gamaan).
25
The-Great-MulleinApr 24, 2026
-23
Iran dosent want democracy, it is utopia as it is now. Or at least that's what I gather from listnook.
-23
[deleted]Apr 24, 2026
+4
[deleted]
4
airmantharpApr 24, 2026
+1
Without the IRGC, they damn well could
1
Crow_away_cawcawApr 24, 2026
+9
Just because the average listnookor opposes the U.S. haphazardly starting wars and murdering civilians and causing a global energy crisis doesn’t mean we are all delusional about the state of the Iranian government. Both things can be true.
If y’all actually want to do some good in the world why not use that $2 billion / day to fund USAID so you can go back to funding agent orange clean up in Vietnam, 50 years after you poisoned vietnam, for example.
9
Myko475Apr 24, 2026
+1
They ran out of blood? 🩸
1
T_for_teaApr 24, 2026
-1
F*** monarchs
And f*** theocracy
-1
[deleted]Apr 23, 2026
-93
[deleted]
-93
TheSleepyTruthApr 23, 2026
+43
No Iranian should be advocating for the current regime. If they do, I suggest turning on the news. No history book needed.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/27/iran-protests-death-toll-disappeared-bodies-mass-burials-30000-dead
https://time.com/7357635/more-than-30000-killed-in-iran-say-senior-officials/
43
luke_l7Apr 23, 2026
-8
People can do neither
-8
JackieDaytona77Apr 23, 2026
-16
Hold on a second. Get ready for this: they should move on from both.
-16
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+26
Oh totally! Just move on! Not like the current regime opened fire (machine guns) on unarmed citizens killing 30,000+ innocents over the course of 2 days. They should just move on! Why didn’t they think of that?
26
Eternal_AlooboiApr 23, 2026
+2
I think when the guy above you said "move on", he probably meant finding a better replacement in governance over both the Shah and the current regime. As they both have faults.
2
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+13
Yes, but the Islamic republic has made this impossible. It’s not possible for a leadership figure to rise up from within Iran. If they do and they aren’t killed, they’re with this regime. Reza pahlavi is nobody’s top choice, but he’s the only choice and he’s demonstrated a lot of grit and love for his people. Those who stand to discredit him only empower the regime.
13
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
+1
> he’s demonstrated a lot of grit and love for his people.
LMAO!! 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Yeah right, spoken like a true diaspora. Yes, very loving when you support the bombing of your people and align yourself with their attackers Netanyahu and Trump. And if he has so much grit, why don't you guys airdrop him into Iran to lead your revolution? If he's as popular as you diaspora claim, the people will rise up upon seeing him and the regime will fall overnight. Instead of him cowardly hiding behind Netanyahu and trying to get everyone else to win his throne for him. Or if he's killed, then that'd at least put him on par with Khamenei, but no he still cowers abroad while exhorting others to fight his battles for him.
1
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+15
I love that you paint khamenei as a martyr. It makes my job easier when you people expose your true colours. Beautiful
15
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
Nice try, but I didn't say that. Martyrdom means nothing to an athiest. But I love that you paint your Shah as a man of 'grit' and 'love for his people' - you DID say that. And yet Mr. Love is supporting his people being killed, and Mr. Grit doesn't have the balls to do his own revolt and risk his own neck to reclaim his crown
0
luftlandeApr 23, 2026
+1
Have they been able to yet? 🫢
1
allMightyGINGERApr 23, 2026
+20
They are advancing for the Extinction of the Islamic Republic and a secular democracy to take over Iran, he is the man who is trying to spearhead the movement, not assuming permanent control.
20
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+85
Yes, please do teach Iranians about their own history as you clearly know better than them.
85
luca3791Apr 23, 2026
+14
Wether he should be in power is unknown for me.
However it’s asinine to insinuate that by default, a person living in a country knows the history better than everyone who doesn’t.
14
Timey16Apr 23, 2026
-5
Iranians so far haven't been in favor of getting him into power. They want to get rid of their regime, but they most definitely also don't want the Shah back (or anyone related to him close to power). He is pretty much being pushed as a replacement leader by western powers, the US in particular, only.
Iranians do not like the concept of monarchy, which is why the new Ayatollah being the son of the old one was so unpopular.
Pushing him is very much "Western 'democracies' telling people 'lesser' than them what government they are supposed to have to be civilized"
But the guy is 100% an American puppet. Getting him in power means a puppet regime it's not hard to see.
-5
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+25
This is objectively untrue. And mind you, western powers (Trump includes) haven’t been supporting him at the least.
Iranians aren’t looking for monarchy, but his name is the only one chanted during the protests inside Iran and every march held outside Iran. He’s our best shot at a transition to democracy.
25
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
-22
This is objectively untrue. He doesn't have much support in Iran, which is why despite repeated calls for them to rise up to accept him as their new leader by Israel (whose entire military campaign against Iran is even named after him), they've refused to do so. Even during past protests the protest leaders didn't unify around him.
It's mostly the Shah era former urban elites who now form the Iranian diaspora living in the West who keep cheering for him, while celebrating their country and people being bombed, so as to either return to their lives of privilege or at least get their revenge.
-22
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+30
As an Iranian with family and friends in Iran, you are wrong. What exactly do you expect people to do? They’ve tried rising up, they were shot down. They’ve tried getting the word out, they had telecom and internet cut off. The few videos that do manage to make it out, showing demonstrations in Iran show people chanting his name.
30
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
-27
So you admit you're a member of said diaspora. I already mentioned you guys. And Iranians have risen up many times before, yet the protest leaders did not coalesce around the Shah. Also reminder that it was Iranians who kicked out your beloved Shah, who also ran a repressive regime, so they clearly do have the capacity to overthrow their govts. They may not like their current regime, but it was your beloved Shah who they hated enough to actually overthrow him, not this regime. Not even with aggressive foreign backing have they done it, but despite foreign disapproval they kicked out your Shah. That's how much they hated him. And your Shah has even aligned himself with Netanyahu and Trump. Just LOL if you think that's going to make him popular in Iran.
-27
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+30
When our shah saw that the people wanted him out, he didn’t go and massacre tens of thousands. He left. No, he wasn’t perfect, he had his flaws. But life under the shah was eons better than what we have now. There’s no point arguing with people like you, I’m not looking to waste my time.
30
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
-18
Lol! 'Our' Shah? Very telling. 'Your Shah' ran a repressive regime, complete with its own secret police. Don't even try painting him in a positive light. History knows otherwise - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAVAK
-18
Quirky_Eye6775Apr 23, 2026
+20
This is really one of those Listnook Moments when an american leftist decides to argue with a actual person that lived through something bad that the leftists, in his bubble, thought was good.
20
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+20
Yeah, as I said, he wasn’t perfect. He was a dictator. But he loved people and we saw progress that we never saw again after his time. If you think savak is anything like the IRGC, you’re just demonstrating your ignorance.
20
JackieDaytona77Apr 23, 2026
-25
Iranian Americans advocating for Pahlavi are mostly Jewish/Christian. Ive seen the demonstrations, most of them wearing a crucifix or Jewish (just stating what I’m observing)
-25
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+17
I’ve been in demonstrations, the last one being global day of action where a couple hundred thousand of us showed up in Toronto. I went with my friends and family, and not a single one of us is Jewish or Christian. Either Muslim, or ex-Muslim. So again, no. You can’t pull c*** out of nowhere and hope it sticks.
17
BendicantMiasApr 23, 2026
-1
Iranians do know their history, which is why despite repeated calls for them to rise up to accept him as their new leader by Israel (whose entire military campaign against Iran is even named after him), they've refused to do so. Even during past protests the protest leaders didn't unify around him.
It's mostly the Shah era former urban elites who now form the Iranian diaspora living in the West who keep cheering for him, while celebrating their country and people being bombed, so as to either return to their lives of privilege or at least get their revenge.
-1
rohowskyApr 23, 2026
-3
Well under the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, you didn’t have religious fanaticism, but it was a quite brutal regime
-3
TheWizardApr 23, 2026
-10
Tell me something I, as a non-Iranian (but married to an Iranian), doesn't know about Iranian history that you do. I know plenty of Iranians that do NOT want to go back to "Shah's regime". That includes my wife. If anything, the opposition to Islamic regime is also divided because of him.
-10
Ready_Data5206Apr 23, 2026
-90
He openly encouraged and aided an attack on his homeland and is responsible for the deaths of thousands, all in the pursuit of power and money.
-90
CityRulesFootballApr 23, 2026
+79
The same homeland that killed 10-30k civilians in a matter of days
79
wormtismApr 23, 2026
-34
“Hey, don’t kill your own citizens - I wanna kill your people instead!” f****** bozo.
-34
hurdurnotavailableApr 23, 2026
+16
Hengaw data shows that vast majority of deaths from this war are military. It would take half a decade of this war continuing to reach the death count that the regime caused in 2 days in January.
16
[deleted]Apr 23, 2026
-109
[removed]
-109
Emotional-BroncoApr 23, 2026
+35
> Iranians living in Iran are worse off as a result of this war and Pahlavi should hold some accountability.
How was their life before the war? Could women walk without being covered? Or drive? Or protest?
35
ChokycorgiApr 23, 2026
+6
10 million people in Tehran ran out of drinking water. That’s what life was like.
6
Lowfi-ConcertApr 23, 2026
+11
And then tens of thousands were massacred when they dared to complain by protesting about not having water
11
LifeOfHiApr 23, 2026
-2
Yup + even less water now + less civil infrastructure + toxic air + decrease in value of dollar + fear of Israeli and American bombs
-2
LifeOfHiApr 23, 2026
-5
All those things still exist + less energy + less infrastructure + toxic air and water + less girls attending school as they are now dead
-5
Brief_Hospital_1766Apr 23, 2026
-102
But Trump said he was the Iranian people's favourite leader. Now I'm confused.
-102
Lowfi-ConcertApr 23, 2026
+13
It was not an Iranian who did it
13
PolytechnikaApr 23, 2026
+59
After almost 50 years of killing dissidents, there are indeed very few notable opposition figures. Pahlavi has one relevant thing and one thing only, and that is name recognition. I don't think anybody really wants him to become king and reinstate the monarchy, but he is a valuable figure for opponents of the regime to rally behind.
59
Brief_Hospital_1766Apr 23, 2026
-42
I have two Iranian neighbours. I asked them about him a while ago, years to be exact, and the translation from their relatives still in Iran was basically, *"From the frying pan to the fire".*
-42
asdhjasdhlkjashdhgfApr 23, 2026
+33
you just revealed you are not "confused" and not iranian, so why not let the two iranian speak for themselves instead of you laying words in their mouth. Because here you admitted you confuse others by insinuating contradiction of something you most likely are just shy of admitting yourself.
are you russian? Or are you the third iranian keeping an eye on your iranian neighbors?
33
[deleted]Apr 23, 2026
+6
[deleted]
6
Brief_Hospital_1766Apr 23, 2026
-13
Exactly my point. Thank you.
-13
KwikstepApr 23, 2026
+11
Attack likely perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
11
S1mba93Apr 23, 2026
-43
It's happening again. June 2nd 1967 on repeat. If I was a SPRINGER employee, I'd probably start looking for a new job.
83 Comments