The Heir Apparent
Reza Pahlavi grew up in a family dedicated to shaping modern Iran. His father, the Shah, envisioned a rapidly modernizing and secular Iran, while his mother, Farah Diba, championed cultural and social causes. As the Crown Prince, Reza was groomed to inherit the throne. He supported the Taj Abadan football club, reflecting his connection to Iran’s cultural and athletic life.
In August 1978, as Iran’s political situation began to destabilize, Reza was sent to the United States to pursue his pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas. There, he trained alongside 42 other cadets in an intensive program that involved flying the Cessna T-37 Tweet and the Northrop T-38 Talon. His military training underscored the Shah’s efforts to prepare him for the dual roles of a monarch and a commander-in-chief. However, the Iranian Revolution disrupted these plans, and in March 1979, Reza left the base, returning to a family now displaced by the revolutionary upheaval.
Exile and Educational Pursuits
The collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty forced the royal family into exile, first seeking refuge in Egypt and later relocating to the United States. For Reza, this marked the beginning of a life drastically different from what had been envisioned for him. Determined to continue his education, he enrolled at Williams College in Massachusetts in September 1979. However, the upheaval of his family’s circumstances led him to drop out in 1980, seeking a more stable and focused path elsewhere.
Reza subsequently enrolled at The American University in Cairo to study political science, intending to deepen his understanding of governance and international relations. Nevertheless, reports suggest that his attendance was sporadic, likely due to the challenges of adjusting to life in exile and the uncertainty surrounding his family’s future. By 1981, Reza had chosen to pursue his education privately, engaging with Iranian professors to study subjects such as Persian culture and history, Islamic philosophy, and the geopolitical significance of oil in Iran.