Return to National Wisdom, the Urgent Need for a New Constitution in Post-Islamic Iran.
Raghu Kondori | Shahvand think thank.

Iran’s Constitutional Law, drafted in the early 19th century through the efforts of intellectuals, clerics, and the monarchy, marked a turning point in the country’s legal and political history. Although it was a significant step toward modernizing governance, it carried an inherent structural contradiction from the outset: the legitimacy of the constitutional monarchy depended on approval from religious authorities. This dependency deprived the monarchy of institutional independence and obstructed the development of a fully secular and reason-based government.

With the Islamic Revolution of 1979, this historical contract was unilaterally revoked by religious institutions and revolutionary forces. This revocation marked not only the end of a legal framework but also the conclusion of a phase in Iran’s nation-state formation. Therefore, it is no longer viable to invoke the 1906 Constitutional Law as a foundation for restoring a secular monarchy. That law was built on compromises and power balances that no longer reflect Iran’s current realities—and were themselves part of the structural problem: the interference of religion in politics.

The Constitutional Law—A Nullified Contract

The Constitutional Law was essentially a tripartite agreement between the people, the monarchy, and the religious establishment. In this framework, the monarchy was subject to religious approval, and the parliament operated under clerical supervision. With the 1979 revolution, this contract was unilaterally annulled and replaced by the Islamic Republic.

Today, restoring a secular monarchy based on the old Constitutional Law is not only impractical but legally invalid. Any new political structure must derive its legitimacy from free elections, a newly drafted constitution, and the will of the people.

The Monarchy—History, Not Justification

Iran’s monarchy, with a legacy spanning over 2,500 years, is an integral part of the nation’s cultural and historical memory. However, historical continuity alone cannot serve as a legal justification in the modern era. A return to monarchy must pass through democratic and legal channels—not nostalgia or appeals to the past.

The Philosophy of Separating Religion from Government

Secularism, separating religion from government is not merely a political decision—it is a philosophical and epistemic transformation in how Iranians understand power, responsibility, and freedom. In modern political philosophy, the legitimacy of governance stems from the will of the people—not divine authority or religious institutions.

In Iran’s future, the law must be based on human reason, equal rights, and freedom of conscience. This transformation requires a reconstruction of political language, national symbols, and shared narratives—ones that redefine Iranians not as subjects, but as citizens.

The Proposed Path to Rebuilding Iran’s Political Structure

The “Iran Prosperity Project” includes the following steps:

1. Free elections to form a new constitutional assembly named Mahestan, inspired by ancient Iranian traditions.
2. Drafting a new constitution that formally separates religion from governance and legislation.
3. Holding a national referendum to choose between two systems: monarchy or republic.
4.  If monarchy is chosen , Prince Reza Pahlavi would be recognized as the official king, and his daughter, Princess Noor Pahlavi, as crown princess—legally and publicly endorsed.

The return to a secular monarchy in Iran’s future will not come through reviving the 1906 Constitutional Law, but through a new constitution, free elections, and the people’s will. This path will only be legitimate if religion is formally separated from government, and Iranians can choose their future with awareness, freedom, and collective responsibility.

Iran’s future is not a return to the past—it is the rebirth of national wisdom.