Saed News: Due to Ashraf's scheming, the rumor spread that Soraya had empowered the Bakhtiari family over the royal court and had paved the way for the expulsion of the king's mother and sisters.
According to the Saad News website and Simorgh, Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari was the second wife of the Shah of Iran. Due to difficulties in becoming pregnant, she was forced to separate from Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari, the second wife of Mohammad Reza Shah, was born on July 22, 1932, at the English Missionary Hospital in Isfahan. Her father, Khalil, was the son of Esfandiar, Sardar Asad Bakhtiari, and her mother was a German woman named 'Eva Karl.' After Soraya's birth, they moved to Berlin due to poor health conditions in Iran but returned to Isfahan in 1937.
Soraya initially attended the "Madame Elli Mental" school to learn German and took French lessons from a private tutor. She spent her elementary school years at the Behesht Aein School in Isfahan and was there until the 4th grade of secondary school. In 1947, the Bakhtiari family migrated to Switzerland.
Soraya grew up between two contrasting worlds—tribal and European. As a result, her emotional structure was shaped by this cultural duality, leading her to appear outwardly confident while being emotionally fragile. Her early interest in acting and her acceptance of marriage to the 32-year-old Shah at the age of 18 reflected this psychological state.
Soraya's fate was changed when her aunt, Forough Zafar, showed her photographs to the Pahlavi family. Soraya was invited to Tehran and married Mohammad Reza Pahlavi on February 12, 1951, becoming the Queen of Iran. The marriage had a political aspect, as it helped resolve conflicts with the Bakhtiari tribe and strengthened the Shah's position in the oil-rich regions of southern Iran.
Soraya's entry into the royal court coincided with significant events, including the nationalization of the oil industry during Prime Minister Mossadegh's tenure, followed by his overthrow in the 1953 American-British coup and the Shah's return.
While visiting Italy, Soraya met a journalist named Patricia Lari, who was actually a political agent tasked with passing messages between the Shah and the U.S. government during the coup against Mossadegh. According to CIA documents and Soraya's own statements, she played a role in facilitating the dismissal of Mossadegh and the appointment of General Zahedi as prime minister. In addition to her political involvement, Soraya also became active in social work by founding a charity.
Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari during her trip to India and visit to the Nursing School in New Delhi.
In 1954, Mohammad Reza's brother, Alireza, died in a plane crash. This event, combined with the influence of Taj al-Muluk and Ashraf, escalated the issue of the succession, as Soraya had not been able to bear a child. Foreign specialists began treating her, and she sought medical help in Europe and America, but to no avail. In 1957, Ashraf's scheming led to rumors that Soraya had allowed the Bakhtiari family to dominate the royal court and made room for the expulsion of the Shah's mother and sisters. This upset Soraya greatly, leading to serious discussions between her and the Shah about the succession. Soraya suggested the Shah abdicate or choose one of his half-brothers as the heir, but the Shah refused.
Soon after, the Shah proposed marrying another woman solely to have children, but Soraya found this repulsive and decided to separate. In February 1958, Soraya left for Switzerland, and on March 14, 1958, the news of their divorce was announced.
In the divorce settlement, many conditions were outlined, including double the dowry (about one million tomans), a monthly allowance of 30,000 tomans, the title of "Royal Princess," and the right to use a diplomatic passport. Additionally, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left a $40 million inheritance and a monthly allowance of 300,000 francs for Soraya.
Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari at a party with Egyptian filmmakers after her separation from Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
After the divorce, Soraya enjoyed her wealth through leisure and frequent travel. She briefly pursued a career in acting and appeared in the film "Three Faces of a Woman." Soraya, who loved the Persian language and reading Persian books, especially Khayyam's quatrains, left behind several works, the most famous of which are "My Story" and "The Palace of Solitude."
Soraya, a Christian by faith, passed away on October 25, 2001, at the age of 69 from a heart attack in her luxury apartment and was buried in the Esfandiari family tomb in Munich.
She had left instructions for her estate to be auctioned, with the proceeds donated to orphanages in France, the French Red Cross, and organizations for stray dogs.
Her grave is located beside her father, mother, and brother.
