Khamenei’s death will not automatically topple Iran’s regime: Farah Pahlavi

Farah Pahlavi, widow of Iran’s last Shah and mother of Reza Pahlavi, said the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, though “historically significant,” will not automatically bring down Iran’s ruling system.

In an exclusive interview with AFP in Paris on Tuesday (March 3), Farah Pahlavi, emphasised that “the departure of a central figure in the power structure does not signify the end of a system.”

She added, “The key issue will be the ability of the Iranian people to unite. Only if they can achieve peaceful, orderly, and sovereign change under the rule of law will it play a decisive role.”

She called on the international community to support Iranians’ fundamental rights, including free elections, freedom of expression, and the right to live with dignity, and urged Iran’s officials to exercise restraint to avoid bloodshed.

Her son, Reza Pahlavi, has presented himself as an alternative leadership figure, calling for national unity among Iran’s ethnic minorities and warning against exploiting the current crisis for separatist aims.

Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Pahlavi family in exile has sought to influence global opinion on Iran, though analysts remain divided on their influence and legitimacy inside the country.