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 a number of descendants of Reza Shah.[1]

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.[2][3][4]

Line of succession to the Qajar claim

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.

  1. Prince Arsalan Mirza Qajar
  2. Prince Mohammad Ali Mirza Qajar (born 1942)
  3. ?

See also

References

  1. Dareini, Ali Akbar (1999). The rise and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty. p. 446. ISBN 81-208-1642-0. 2. The Shah gives another account for his separation with Fawzia. “For reasons still obscure to medical science, Queen Fawzia bore only one child; thus unfortunately no male heir issued from our marriage. Under the Persian Constitution the crown must pass by direct line of descent to a male heir. This rules out not only my daughter but also my three sisters. The Constitution further stipulates that no one descended from the previous Qajar dynasty is eligible to become king. Since two of my father’s wives were of Qajar blood, my half-brothers who are their sons are ineligible. In fact I had only one brother not related to the Qajar line, and to my sorrow he was to die in an aeroplane crash in 1954. With these limitations it is no wonder that my advisors felt it important for my wife to bear a son. It is true that the Constitution might have been amended, but the dimate of opinion seemed opposed to tampering with the provisions relating to the royal succession. Besides, I was young and, quite apart from the constitutional factor, I wanted more children. When Queen Fawzia went to Egypt on an extended stay, we decided on a divorce.” Please see Mission for My Country His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Shah Pahiavi, Hutchinson and Co. (Publishers) Ltd., London, 1961-1968; pp. 219-220
  2. "Covenant with the Iranian People". Reza Pahlavi. January 21, 2003.
  3. "April 2011, Q&A". Reza Pahlavi. May 1, 2011.
  4. "'A Race Against Time'". Reza Pahlavi. September 4, 2006.