The Vessel and Content of Monarchy
– A Strategic Analysis of Iran’s Future
Author: Raghu Kondori (Director of Shahvand Think Tank)
Introduction: The Vessel and the Content of Monarchy
A Strategic Vision for Iran’s Future
The central issue is the salvation of Iran.
The Islamic Republic consists of a content and a vessel that are relatively aligned in functionality. However, the term “Islamic Republic” was a deception orchestrated by Khomeini. In reality, there is no actual republicanism in this regime—only its appearance. What has always existed is an Islamic government, a modern-day caliphate based on absolute clerical authority.
To overthrow this regime, we need a content powerful enough to dismantle it. And such content requires a fitting vessel. Today, we are witnessing a growing nationalist and Iran-centered movement within society that stands firmly against the Islamic Republic. And these very people, whose voices cry for change, seek not only a new content—but also the proper vessel to contain it.
Understanding this is simple: the people are calling for the return of the Pahlavi monarchy.
The Rise of Pahlavism and the “Iranian Republic” Illusion
With the rapid growth of Pahlavism inside Iran, a new political mutation is forming. Reformists, supported by leftist elements and the Mojahedin, are attempting to establish a so-called “Iranian Republic.” In this version, power remains in the hands of a president. There might be a symbolic Supreme Leader to appease the clergy—or none at all.
This would merely change the outward structure of the regime. A loosening of hijab laws, the informal re-opening of nightclubs and alcohol vendors, and the opening of various concerts may all occur. But at its core, the system remains untouched: The rentier economy and state-driven corruption will continue. The hostility toward the West and Israel, alignment with the Palestinian cause, and alliance with the global Left and the export of Islamism will persist.
Molting: The Regime’s Long-Term Plan to Stay in Power
For years, segments of the regime—particularly within its security establishment—have been preparing for this “molting” phase. They have expelled theorists of the current system from universities and key institutions in order to recycle them as seemingly independent thinkers or opposition figures. These individuals are now dressed in the rhetoric of nationalism and Iranian identity, promoting the theory of transformation both inside and outside the country.
This project aims to preserve the Islamic Republic under a new banner, one that wears the aesthetic of Iranian thought but is fundamentally anti-Pahlavi.
If the molting project fails, the same forces aim to infiltrate the transitional period and either weaken or alter the monarchy from within. This is the very trap that the monarchy must avoid during the interim phase.
Think tanks like Simorghs—symbolically “doves of the shrine” reborn—or campaigns like “From Tajzadeh to Shahzadeh” reflect this exact strategy.
Undermining the Monarchy from Within
Meanwhile, there are individuals and groups who, under the guise of monarchism, are actively working to weaken the Pahlavi movement. Disguised as royalists, they target Prince Reza Pahlavi’s team and other influential figures and organizations within the monarchist camp. Their tactics include discrediting efforts, isolating thinkers, and undermining institutional development, thereby hollowing out the theoretical and strategic foundations of the monarchy in order to weaken the role of the king in any future revolutionary process.
They use political psychology and “selective exposure” tactics. This includes exposing minor regime operatives to build credibility—only to later use that credibility to attack critical actors in the royalist movement. In short, they aim to replace the theory of monarchy with confusion and division.
The Red and Black Reactionaries
Even with the fall of the Islamic Republic and the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy, political Islam will not vanish from the region. Global powers will initiate new performances, with new players—Islamic factions and regional states—stepping into newly assigned roles.
In a free and secular Iran, religion must be separated from governance. When religion becomes a political party or enters the realm of state power, it ceases to be faith—it becomes ideology. And like all ideologies, it eventually merges with its ideological cousin: the global Left. This union, known in Iran as the red and black alliance (communism and political Islam), has repeatedly undermined Iranian sovereignty.
Leftists—whether national, Islamic, Marxist, or independent—all serve the same anti-national purpose. Despite their labels, they converge in their opposition to Iran’s sovereignty and the Pahlavi legacy. Because ideology has no homeland—it has no loyalty to nation, patriotism, or national interest.
In this regard, Marxism and Islamism, particularly in the Middle East, across Islamic Africa, and even globally, are ideologically aligned.
The Counterforce: A Democratic and Secular Iran
To counter this ideological alliance, a secular and democratic Iran with a strong parliamentary system can safeguard national interests, cultural identity, and equal civil rights across a unified nation.
During the Pahlavi I and II eras, patriotism was actively promoted with the national slogan: “God, Shah, Homeland.” In what we may call the Pahlavi III era, within the framework of a modern secular monarchy, this slogan evolves into:
“Shah, Homeland, Freedom.”
The Global Landscape: Where Does Iran Stand?
Western powers are not interested in seeing the return of Iran’s former grandeur. As of today, Israel is perhaps Iran’s only reliable regional ally.
Let us remember: During World War II, when the Allies invaded Iran, it was the foresight and bravery of Reza Shah the Great that saved the nation. He chose to abdicate in favor of his young son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, believing that preserving the monarchy was synonymous with preserving Iran itself.
Had the monarchy collapsed then, Iran would have fragmented. It was only through the wise diplomacy of Mohammad Reza Shah—supported by Prime Minister Qavam and his cabinet—that Iran maintained its territorial integrity, overcame the plots of Mosaddegh and the Tudeh Party, and eventually launched the White Revolution.
This was a transformation that empowered the state, strengthened the economy, modernized the army, and advanced the rights of women and citizens—building a culturally proud and progressive nation.
None of this would have been possible without the monarchy.
Yet today, the global political order continues to resist the return of Iran’s golden era—especially under a restored monarchy.
What Is the Solution?
At the beginning of the year 2023, Shahvand Think Tank proposed the “Pahlavi as National Leader” campaign in full support of the Shah’s call for national unity.
Simultaneously, two years earlier, Shahvand launched the “Javid Shah” (Long Live the King) campaign to deepen the bond between the people and the crown and to cultivate Iranian nationalism.
Today, if we fail to offer the people the content they demand within the vessel they trust, the revolution will slow. The Islamic Republic will gain more time to reshape itself. Worse still, foreign powers may seize the opportunity to impose decisions on behalf of the Iranian people—because most political factions still fail to understand the relationship between vessel and content.
Most so-called advisors are mere analysts, lacking real strategy and lived experience. The fantasy of a “transitional government” is just that: a fantasy.
The key question that will haunt the people is:
What will be the revolution for?
Only One Model Can Deliver: Constitutional Monarchy
Only one vessel, paired with the right content, can truly overthrow the Islamic Republic and save Iran:
The return of a constitutional monarchy.
Otherwise, we risk losing a game we think we are winning on the surface—but which we might lose under the table.
Let me be clear:
The strategy of a transitional government may be both flawed and impossible.
It is the restoration of the monarchy that can truly unite the people and prepare the nation for real revolution.
This is not authoritarianism—it is reality. It is a historical truth that demands to be seen, and it is upon this foundation that any future strategy must be built.
The French Example: De Gaulle and the Battle for Sovereignty
During World War II, the Americans and British spent months preparing for the Normandy landings to liberate France. Just two days before the invasion, General Charles de Gaulle, who was in exile in England, was informed of the plan.
The Americans had intended to take control of France post-liberation, planning to install a military governor.
De Gaulle’s intelligence and diplomacy saved France. He offered to participate in the operation, arguing that his presence would make the liberation smoother and reduce American casualties. After the landing, he approached General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the commander of Operation Overlord, with a proposal:
“If the people of Paris know that De Gaulle is coming, the Vichy regime will collapse faster. The people will join the resistance, and the Nazis will retreat sooner. Your soldiers will face fewer losses.”
Eisenhower agreed. When De Gaulle entered Paris, he immediately declared a Free France and claimed national leadership. The people of France accepted it.
The United States found itself confronted with a fait accompli.
Without De Gaulle’s shrewdness, France might have become an American protectorate.
The Way Forward for Iran
We, too, can declare a Provisional Monarchic Government, pushing the Islamic Republic toward collapse from within. This would place Western powers in front of a clear, unified national will—and force them to retreat.
This is our only real chance.
Widespread public support must have a clear, coherent, and structural political meaning—and that meaning is support for Reza Shah II. His Imperial Highness King Reza Pahlavi.
System-centered governance cannot be built overnight. It requires years of theory, experience, and planning to become reality. Today, we do not even have a single political party or organization out of Iran that operates on a system-based framework.
Why a Provisional Monarchy?
Such a government would give us the ability to:
Secure our borders
Ensure political and food chain security
Rebuild economic infrastructure
Attract foreign investment
Revive social stability and tourism
Reduce illegal immigration and increase employment
And bring back Iranian expats who would now trust their homeland under the monarchy
We would re-attract wealth and expertise—both domestic and international.
With proper management, expert teams, and scientific planning, Iran can be rebuilt.
We will not only save Iran—we will stabilize the region and liberate religion from the prison of politics, giving it the space for a renaissance.
This Islamic renaissance will become a bulwark against political Islam and terrorism.
And this is only possible through secular democracy.
A Secular Democracy within a Monarchical Framework
This vision requires the acceptance of secular democratic content within the vessel of monarchy, made possible through an official declaration by Reza Shah II.
Following the formation of political parties, parliamentary elections, and the re-establishment of stable governance, the Shah of Iran can propose a national referendum on the future system of government.
Most people in Iran have only lived under the Islamic Republic.
They have no real experience of life under a constitutional monarchy.
This provisional monarchical period will give both monarchists and republicans the chance to form parties, evaluate their visions, and let the people choose freely and consciously.
A Thousand-Year Content in a Thousand-Year Vessel
It is only with this ancient content and its timeless vessel that we can overthrow the decayed content and vessel of the Islamic Republic.
Encourage the people to sing “Ey Iran,” to dance at every opportunity, to celebrate, and to shout:
“Javid Shah!”
Let them echo the political and strategic slogan:
Shah – Homeland – Freedom
A unifying call for all patriots—monarchist or republican.
Shah – Homeland – Freedom
Shah:
The symbol of returning to a constitutional monarchy under Reza Shah II, reflecting the will of the people and the path out of our crisis.
Homeland:
A reaffirmation of Iranian identity and national unity, territorial integrity, and equal civil rights for all citizens, across the entire land of Iran.
Freedom:
A universal and inclusive demand—our shared goal of building a secular and democratic Iran for everyone.
This slogan is not just a chant. It is a powerful tool and catalyst for igniting a national uprising and toppling the Islamic Republic.
It has been theorized and promoted by the Shahvand Think Tank for over two years and proposed to political organizations and parties.
In Summary:
The salvation of Iran lies in the doctrine of:
Shah, Homeland, Freedom
— to achieve equal citizenship rights through the integration of global knowledge, artificial intelligence, and Iran’s millennia-old identity and monarchy.
All Rights Reserved.
