Once a distant figure in exile, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a rallying symbol for many Iranians demanding change. His name echoes through the streets during recent protests, reflecting a growing following both inside and beyond Iran’s borders.

The son of the late shah settled in the United States after the 1979 Iranian Revolution and has leveraged his royal pedigree and a flurry of media appearances over the past year to raise his political profile. Publicly, Pahlavi has stated he aims to become a transitional leader should the regime collapse.