From Claiming Patriotism to Swearing Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution: Reza Pahlavi Officially Becomes a U.S. Citizen

According to Saednews political service, the newspaper Farhikhtegan wrote that Reza Pahlavi was never actually thinking about fighting for freedom. Like many relatives of deposed monarchs, he had already settled into a luxurious life abroad, outside Iran’s borders. However, when anti-Iranian movements found no other option and saw opposition groups as fragmented, they were forced to bring him into service.

Regarding Pahlavi’s nationality, the story of this family’s attachment to fleeing their country and living abroad—prioritizing personal interests over the fate of their homeland—is not new and is hereditary. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in August 1953, when he saw signs of public resistance, fled the country in fear. During his exile days in Rome hotels, he no longer entertained thoughts of returning. At that time, he reportedly told his wife Soraya that everything was over and they should go to the United States, buy a farm there, and take up agriculture.

Years later, his son followed a similar mindset, but in a more formal way. While he had long tried to present himself merely as a “resident” in the United States, new documents obtained from the state of Maryland reportedly show that his name and his wife’s name are listed in the official voter registry of Potomac, Maryland. This, the article claims, implies official U.S. citizenship, since in that area, unlike some others, voting rights are reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens.

The report further states that anyone who becomes a U.S. citizen must swear an oath of allegiance, fully renouncing previous loyalties to any foreign country or power and pledging loyalty only to the U.S. Constitution.

According to the text, Reza Pahlavi has made his choice through this oath. It argues that as a U.S. citizen, he is now obliged to act in accordance with the interests of the country that granted him citizenship. For the Iranian public, who consider the country’s independence and territorial integrity a red line, the article claims it is clear which side he would stand on when the interests of Tehran and Washington conflict. It concludes that his only “honest action,” as framed by the article, is fulfilling the oath he took to serve U.S. interests, whether through encouraging further sanctions or supporting policies that affect the livelihoods of Iranian citizens.