Line of succession to the former Iranian throne


The Iranian Monarchy was overthrown following the Islamic Revolution in 1979 with the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi going into exile.

Line of succession to the Pahlavi claim

Under the Pahlavi Dynasty the law of succession stated the Shah must profess the Islamic faith, his mother must be an Iranian citizen, a Muslim and not descended from the previous Qajar dynasty which rules out the sons of Reza Shah by his fifth and sixth wives and their male line descendants. Except Mohammad Reza Shah, only Prince Alireza Pahlavi was eligible among the sons of Reza Shah. With his death, only his sons are eligible. But the mother of Prince Patrick Ali Pahlavi is not a natural born Iranian citizen, nor the Iranian parliament had approved this legal term for her. As a result Prince Patrick Ali Pahlavi is not eligible. Moreover, Prince Patrick Ali Pahlavi also married a non-Iranian woman and his sons face the same issue, even if an exception is made for Prince Patrick Ali Pahlavi. Thus, Prince Reza Pahlavi is the only remaining eligible person. With his death, nobody can claim the throne even theoretically.
Given that the modern claim calls for a new constitution, and thus the bylaws need not necessarily be in accordance with the previous constitution in the event the monarchy is restored new succession rules may be established.

Line of Succession in February 1979

The Qajar dynasty was deposed in 1925 with Reza Shah ascending the Sun Throne. The Iranian Constitution of 1906 set out the succession for princes whose mother is a Qajar princess of Persian descent. Only males are allowed to succeed.