Why the “Hybrid Option” Is the Best Model for Iran’s Transitional Period?

Author: Raghu Kondori | Shahvand Think Tank

Among the various scenarios proposed for Iran’s future, the Hybrid Option—put forward by the Iran Prosperity Project under the guidance of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi—is considered the most pragmatic and executable path for the transitional period. This option is neither a return to the past nor a reform of the existing regime. It offers a new, strategic route to overcome Iran’s current political crisis with minimal cost and maximum effectiveness.

In the Emergency Transition Handbook, the Hybrid Option is introduced as the most suitable legal structure for the transition period. It is neither a full reinstatement of the constitutional monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah’s era, nor a continuation of the Islamic Republic. Instead, it is an independent and forward-looking path that benefits from past experience while addressing the present and future needs of the Iranian people.

The primary reason for the superiority of this model lies in the psychological and institutional realities of a post-Islamic Republic society. Generations of Iranians have been born and raised in a radically different system since 1979. Legal, educational, and cultural infrastructures have been deeply altered—often dismantled. Under such circumstances, simply reinstating the pre-1979 system without adaptation would require massive public re-education, prolonged institutional reform, and significant structural adjustments. This would be time-consuming, costly, and potentially destabilizing.

We can view this with a mathematical metaphor, imagining three points:

Point 1: The structure of the monarchy under Mohammad Reza Shah.

Point 2: The Islamic Republic.

Point 3: A new, free, secular, and democratic Iran

Transitioning from Point 2 to Point 1, and then to Point 3, is a longer and more expensive path than moving directly from Point 2 to Point 3—by designing a new, modern, and scientifically grounded system: the Hybrid Option.

It is essential to clarify that the Hybrid Option is not a euphemism for “reformism” within the current regime, nor a compromise with the past. Rather, it is a strategic design for building a stable, practical, and modern governance model that guides Iran through its most sensitive historical transition—from authoritarian theocracy to democratic rule of law. In this model, the people’s right to determine the form of future governance—whether monarchy or republic—is fully respected and guaranteed.

The Hybrid Option draws inspiration from successful transitions in countries like Spain, Uruguay, and post-communist Eastern Europe. It emphasizes a gradual and secure transfer of power, the formation of temporary institutions with clear mandates, and the drafting of a new constitution through inclusive public participation—not merely the rewording of outdated legal texts or the reproduction of previous templates.

Ultimately, this model seeks to accelerate national stability, restore public trust, and preserve national unity during one of the most critical and fragile periods in Iran’s modern history. Choosing the Hybrid Option means choosing reason over nostalgia, responsibility over reaction, and future-building over past repetition.