Is the Islamic Republic of Iran afraid of Reza Pahlavi? - analysis
Since Jauary's protests, the Islamic Republic’s media have worked hard to discredit Pahlavi, suggesting Tehran still believes that convincing Iranians not to follow him is worth the effort
Assessment
Iranian state media is spending significant energy attacking Reza Pahlavi, which reveals more about Tehran's anxieties than about Pahlavi himself. The regime would not bother discrediting a figure it considered irrelevant. This suggests the opposition figure retains enough symbolic power to worry the Islamic Republic, especially after the protest movement that began in January. Watch whether this media campaign intensifies if domestic unrest flares again.