Following this separation, Mohammad Reza remained unmarried for a period. According to accounts attributed to his sister Ashraf, many women were introduced to him during this time, but none developed into lasting relationships. The relationships were described as brief and lacking emotional commitment, leaving the Shah dissatisfied and increasingly uninterested in such encounters.
His second marriage was to Soraya Esfandiari, a member of the Bakhtiari elite. This relationship is often portrayed as one based on genuine affection. According to those close to the royal family, Mohammad Reza deeply loved Soraya, and the marriage might have endured had the couple been able to produce an heir. Because the monarchy depended on a clear line of succession, Soraya’s inability to have children created a serious political problem. The resulting pressure eventually led to their divorce despite their reported emotional attachment.
After the end of his marriage to Soraya, there were reports that Mohammad Reza considered marrying Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, an Italian royal. According to the account, the proposal encountered religious and political objections because of differences in faith, although this claim is noted as requiring independent verification.
