Groomed for power from childhood, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was more than a prince. He was Reza Shah’s guarantee for a successful political project.

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Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was born into a family driven by ambition and structured by discipline. His father, Reza Khan, was a military officer on the rise, determined to transform both his own life and the future of Iran. As Reza Khan climbed the ranks, ultimately becoming Reza Shah, he envisioned a dynasty rooted in strength, modernity, and national identity. Central to this vision was preparing his son not just to inherit a crown but to embody a new political order.

From a young age, the monarchy separated Mohammad Reza from his domestic environment and placed him in a carefully curated space designed to shape a future monarch. Education was rigorous and symbolic, emphasizing languages, military discipline, and formal conduct. His life became a political project. Everything, from how he walked to how he wrote letters to his father, was meant to reflect the authority and continuity of the Pahlavi dynasty.

Despite his father’s authoritarian and emotionally distant demeanour, the young heir internalized the values instilled in him—loyalty, order, and nationalism. Yet, his nature diverged. While Reza Shah embodied secularism and control, Mohammad Reza showed a more spiritual, reserved disposition, shaped by reflection rather than command. His affinity for ceremony and symbolism contrasted with his father’s practical militarism.

He marked the father-son relationship by structure rather than intimacy. Reza Shah rarely showed affection, focusing instead on moulding his son through routine, exposure to power, and calculated mentorship. Their interactions served as preparation for leadership, not emotional connection.

His marriage to Princess Fawzia of Egypt was another element of dynastic strategy. Orchestrated by Reza Shah to forge regional alliances, it reflected political calculation more than personal choice. The marriage, however, was strained—culturally mismatched and lacking mutual interest.

As he grew older, Mohammad Reza became more confident, gradually asserting his role within the state. Reza Shah, in turn, began to consult him more directly, not out of warmth, but as part of succession planning. The dynasty’s future hinged on his readiness.

In the end, Reza Shah passed down the tools of power—discipline, order, and control—but not the comfort of paternal warmth. They built their relationship as a mirror of the regime: building it on strength, maintaining it through structure, and binding it by duty over affection. Mohammad Reza inherited not only a throne but the heavy architecture of a vision that prioritized legacy over love.

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After his first foreign trip, Reza Shah declares war on Islam and orders women to remove their hijab.

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The drive for Iran’s modernization, particularly the push for secular reforms, began in the 1920s, when Reza Shah came to power. He marked his rule by efforts to modernize Iran’s infrastructure, improve education, and build a stronger national identity.

Behind these actions was a man who played a crucial role in Reza Shah’s political and reform agenda: Mohammad Ali Foroughi. Foroughi, a distinguished intellectual and politician, had been a close ally of Reza Shah. His influence within the government was significant, and he had been involved in numerous important positions, including as prime minister.

Reza Shah drew inspiration for his vision of the future, in part, from the reforms seen in neighbouring Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

After a trip to Turkey in 1934, Reza Shah became even more determined to accelerate Iran’s transformation, seeking to emulate Atatürk’s efforts in secularizing Turkish society.

In 1936, the government forced strict dress codes for men and women, requiring them to adopt Western-style attire. While many younger people in urban centers embraced the change, there was strong resistance from older generations and more conservative factions of society, especially in rural areas.

Religious groups saw this as a direct assault on hijab and their traditions, opposed the policy fiercely.

This resistance came to a head in Mashhad, where protests broke out against the forced unveiling. The protests turned violent when the military intervened, resulting in a massacre of hundreds, possibly thousands, of people. This brutal crackdown further soured Reza Shah’s relationship with the clergy and the Shia religious establishment, who had already been alienated by the king’s secular policies.

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Murder, Banishment and Suicide.

As Reza Shah’s rule becomes more authoritarian, the alliance that put him in power comes to a bitter end.

Listen to part one here.

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Firuz, a Qajar prince and veteran statesman, had once held top roles across Iranian governments, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Justice. After falling out of favor, he was banished to Semnan, where he lived under surveillance. In April 1937, agents stormed his home. After forcing him to draft a will at gunpoint, they killed him. The death was quietly ruled a heart attack.

This wasn’t an isolated event—it was the end of a political alliance that had begun two decades earlier. In the 1920s, Firuz joined forces with Teymourtash and Davar to form the Revival Party, a secular, progressive movement aimed at modernizing Iran. Ali Akbar Davar, a lawyer educated in Geneva, was the intellectual engine. He backed Reza Khan in abolishing the Qajar dynasty and forming the Pahlavi monarchy.

As a reward, Davar took over the Ministry of Justice. Davar used the opportunity to dismantle Iran’s fragmented legal system. He shut down the courts, purged corrupt staff, and created a centralized judiciary based on modern secular codes.

But the stability they built soon turned on them. Reza Shah’s rule entered a second, more repressive phase in the mid-1930s. Surveillance intensified under police chief Mohammad Hossein Ayrom, who created a vast network of spies and informants. Fabricated charges, secret files, and political prosecutions became tools of control. Teymourtash was arrested and died under suspicious circumstances in Qasr Prison. Firuz was detained and then killed in exile.

By 1937, Davar was serving as Minister of Finance and had led successful trade negotiations with Germany and the Soviet Union. Yet he too, sensed the shift. Reza Shah, increasingly paranoid and authoritarian, publicly humiliated him during a meeting. Davar, knowing the machine he built could now be used against him, chose to act first. He resigned from his post, returned home, wrote two final letters—to his wife and the Shah—and took his own life.

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Behind the Pahlavi dynasty were three politicians: the kingmakers who orchestrated Reza Khan’s rise and shaped his rule. But as Reza Shah tightened his grip on power, this alliance of three faced exile, prison, and death

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Additional listening: AIOC

Read about Nowruz Celebration on our blog.

Three men—Firouz Nosrat al-Dowleh, Abdolhossein Teymourtash, and Ali Akbar Davar—once formed a powerful alliance that reshaped modern Iran. Each brought unique strengths: Firouz, a reform-minded aristocrat; Teymourtash, a cunning political operator; and Davar, a man who came from nothing and had fought his way into power. They all supported Reza Khan’s rise to power and helped implement major reforms once the Pahlavi Dynasty was established.

But as Reza Shah consolidated his power, he became suspicious of his close allies, removing them from his circle of trust one by one.

Firouz Nosrat al-Dowleh was from a prominent Qajar family and served in various ministerial roles. Though he initially signed the unpopular Anglo-Persian Agreement and lost his position, his allies supported his return to government. He played a central role in financing national projects like the Trans-Iranian Railway but was later arrested on corruption charges. His connections to foreign diplomats and past political baggage made Reza Shah suspicious. He was imprisoned, tried, and eventually exiled.

Teymourtash, once Reza Shah’s closest advisor and Minister of Court, helped manage the administration and drive modernization efforts. Over time, his influence declined, especially after a failed oil negotiation with the British and increasing foreign criticism of the Shah. Reza Shah dismissed him, accused him of corruption, and sent him to Qasr Prison. There, after surviving an attempted poisoning, he was ultimately killed by suffocation.

The same system they helped build first put both men at the center of the state’s reforms, then removed and eliminated them. Their downfall reflected Reza Shah’s growing authoritarianism and mistrust of his own inner circle.

The post Book Two – Ep.5: Triumvirate (1) appeared first on The Lion and The Sun Podcast.

A torn-out contract, a paranoid shah, and Iran’s most lucrative resource. With Iran’s oil deal up for renewal, Reza Shah clashes with the British and grows suspicious of his closest allies.

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Additional listening: APOC (Book one – Ep.3):

In the early 20th century, Iran’s oil reserves became the center of a power struggle between the Iranian government and the British-controlled Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). The original agreement granting Britain access to Iran’s oil, signed in 1901 under Mozaffar al-Din Shah, had long been a source of resentment. Over time, British companies manipulated accounting practices to minimize Iran’s profits. This left the Iranian government with a fraction of what it was owed.

By the 1920s, a new power had emerged in Iran: Reza Khan. He was a military leader who, after consolidating his rule, became Reza Shah. With ambitious plans to modernize and strengthen Iran, he sought to renegotiate the oil agreement. He wanted to secure more revenue for the country. His most trusted minister, Abdolhossein Teymourtash, led the negotiations with the British. He demanded a greater share of profits and a more equitable deal.

However, the British, now a global superpower with diversified oil sources, were unwilling to make meaningful concessions. Thus, negotiations stalled, and tensions between Reza Shah and Teymourtash grew. In 1932, frustrated by the lack of progress, Reza Shah abruptly ended the discussions by burning the oil agreement and expelling Teymourtash from his government.

This led to a fresh round of negotiations, with the British bypassing Iran’s ministers and appealing directly to Reza Shah. In a surprising turn, the Shah, who had built his image on resisting foreign exploitation, accepted nearly all of Britain’s demands. Although Iran’s share of profits was slightly increased, the British continued to manipulate their financial reporting through the AIOC company, ensuring that the fundamental imbalance remained unchanged.

Despite the disappointing outcome, state propaganda portrayed the agreement as a victory, claiming that Iran had regained its dignity. But in reality, little had changed—the country remained bound to a colonial oil contract. This time under the name of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. (AIOC)

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A new king, a unified nation, and a country on the brink of transformation. As Reza Shah Pahlavi seizes power, he reshapes Iran with relentless ambition, even at the cost of its democracy.

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The Qajar dynasty had left Iran fragmented, with weak central authority and little control over its vast resources. Reza Shah sought to address these challenges by consolidating power through military, economic, and infrastructural reforms.

A major reform was the introduction of compulsory military service in 1925. This helped create a unified national army and reduce the influence of regional tribes. While the law faced opposition from landowners and the clergy—who feared it would weaken their power—it was essential for centralizing control. Another major initiative was the Trans-Iranian Railway, completed in 1938, which connected Iran’s northern and southern regions. This project significantly improved transportation and boosted the economy. It helped integrate the country by linking distant regions, which had long been isolated due to difficult terrain.

Reza Shah also focused on modernizing Iran’s economy. He established state monopolies on critical goods like tea, sugar, opium, and tobacco, and created the Bank Melli to take control of the nation’s finances. These steps were aimed at reducing foreign influence and asserting Iran’s economic independence. He also expanded the financial sector. He made sure that the state had full control over the country’s financial system, which was crucial for sustaining his vision of a self-sufficient Iran.

By the end of his reign, Iran had undergone significant transformations, with improved infrastructure, a more powerful and unified military, and a stronger, more centralized economy. However, Reza Shah’s increasing authoritarianism, as he focused more on personal power and control, began to overshadow the other pillars of his rule. This shift contributed to growing political tensions, laying the groundwork for future challenges in Iran’s political landscape.

The post Book Two – Ep.3: God, Shah, Nation appeared first on The Lion and The Sun Podcast.

In the aftermath of the parliament’s vote to abolish the Qajar dynasty, Reza Khan and his team lay the groundwork for his ascension to the throne and his official coronation as the new king.

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On October 31, 1925, with the vote of Iran’s National Consultative Assembly (Majlis) the Qajar dynasty was officially abolished, and Reza Khan became the leader. The transition was marked by the dismissal of the Qajar royal family. This included Mohammad Hassan Mirza, the brother of the last Qajar king. Despite some resistance, the Iranian elite largely accepted the change, though the general populace remained indifferent or unaware of the political shift.Reza Khan made an early effort to gain support by aligning himself with Islamic religious figures.

Reza Khan convened a Constituent Assembly to legitimize his rule. In December 1925, the assembly formalized his ascension to the throne, making the Pahlavi family the new royal house. Internationally, Reza Khan swiftly gained recognition. With Britain, the Soviet Union, and others acknowledging his new regime, tensions with Britain arose over diplomatic precedence. While Reza Khan was tying up loose ends, Ahmad Shah tried to make a case for his return. He wanted to fight against the abolishment, but his claims went nowhere.

In December 1925, the constituent assembly swore Reza Khan in as the king of Persia. His first royal act was to build a new cabinet, appointing trusted figures like Ali Akbar Davar and Abdol Hosein Teimurtash, who would play crucial roles in shaping the early Pahlavi state. Reza Khan’s coronation took place in April 1926 with a simple yet dignified ceremony, signifying the start of a new dynasty.

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As Iran’s exiled king prepares to return, the parliament grants Prime Minister sweeping powers. With the help of his rivals, Reza Khan sets out to dismantle the century-old Qajar Dynasty.

Book One Recap: Audio, Video

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Reza Khan, a soldier from humble origins, rose to prominence in early 20th-century Iran. He was driven by a desire to restore stability to a country ravaged by years of mismanagement. Initially serving in the Cossack Brigade, he seized control of the military in 1921 through a military coup. His effective governance and ability to unite a fractured army won him support, but his increasing power also attracted opposition. Particularly from Hassan Moddares, a prominent cleric and politician.

In a strategic move, Reza Khan won over Moddares, who, despite being a vocal critic, eventually supported granting Reza Khan the title of Commander-in-Chief. This title, although legally ambiguous, solidified Reza Khan’s hold on power, making him virtually untouchable. Through negotiations, Moddares extracted concessions, including cabinet positions for his allies, and Reza Khan began to realize that the Qajar monarchy, with its weak and ineffective leadership, was no longer a viable institution.

By late 1925, Reza Khan’s momentum was undeniable. He manipulated public sentiment through orchestrated protests, portraying the Qajar monarchs as out-of-touch and ineffective. At the same time, he secured the backing of foreign powers, including the Soviets and Turkey, who were more aligned with his vision for Iran’s future. Reza Khan then turned to parliament, securing a resolution that abolished the Qajar dynasty once and for all, marking the end of a centuries-old era.

With the fall of the Qajars, Reza Khan prepared to establish his own dynasty, paving the way for the birth of Iran’s next monarchy and changing Iran’s political landscape forever.

The post Book Two – Ep.1: A New Dynasty appeared first on The Lion and The Sun Podcast.

The Qajar dynasty was the embodiment of ineffectiveness. Tyrants incapable of true tyranny.

This is the story of their demise.

Season two of The Lion and the Sun Podcast will start next week. If you’re new to this show, we suggest starting with book one and working your way here! But if you’re not into revisiting the past or are one of our older listeners who has already listened to the previous season, this recap could be a great way for you to catch up with the story.

The Lion and the Sun is a podcast about the modern history of Iran. Its a story of how Iran ended up where it is now and how religion, monarchy, democracy, and nationalism shaped the lives of its people across the 20th century.

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Down with the Qajars. Long Live Reza Shah.

Listen to new chapters from January 29th.

As we’re recording this, Iran is experiencing a wide range of issues.

Both internal turmoil and external conflicts. 

But the fascinating thing about this statement is that it doesn’t matter when you’re listening to this podcast. It could be a week from now, a month, or even years.

No matter the time, the above sentence will hold as much truth then as it has now.

Iran is a rather peculiar place. A country with over 2000 years of history that has always been at the center of world events. From the days of the Achaemenid empire and the Persian wars with the Greeks to their Islamic revolution of 1979 and their constant conflict with the West.

Yet, despite this vast history, for many Iranians, no era looms as large as the Pahlavi dynasty. Despite being one of the shortest reigns in Persia’s long history, its legacy remains embedded in the nation’s collective memory.

The last true dynasty to rule Iran.

In book two of The Lion and the Sun, we turn our focus to the Pahlavi dynasty and its founder. A man who rose from obscurity, dismantled an ancient monarchy, and declared himself king; establishing a new order under his name.

Loved by some and reviled by others, his influence on the nation is undeniable, shaping its modern identity.

This season, we delve into the life of Reza Shah: his meteoric rise to power, the sweeping changes he brought to Iran, his ruthless pragmatism and his ultimate demise.

The second season of The Lion and the Sun begins on January 29 and new chapters will be released every other week.

You can listen to season one here or on all podcast platforms.

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