Shah of Iran Rare Photo Galleries
Alahazrat Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Portrait of a Nationalist
Gallery 2
Ahreeman X
April 22, 2020
Alahazrat Homayoun Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Tuxedo and Bowtie (Papillion)
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Wedding, Tehran 1951
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was 32 and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary was 18 years old
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Wedding, Tehran 1951
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Wedding Photo, Tehran 1951
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Closeup Wedding Photo, Tehran 1951
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Black and White Life Magazine Cover Wedding Photo, Tehran 1951
Mohammad Reza Pahalvi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Black and White Relaxed Wedding Photo, Tehran 1951
Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Wedding Dress and Tiara, Tehran 1951
Soraya was the elder child and the only daughter of Khalil Esfandiary-Bakhtiary a powerful Bakhtiari nobleman and the Iranian ambassador to Germany (West Germany at the time) in the 1950s. Soraya’s mother was Eva Karl who was German. This half Persian and half German beauty was born in the English Missionary Hospital at the Isfahan on 1932. Soraya was introduced to the recently divorced Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (1948), by Forough Zafar Bakhtiary, a close relative of Soraya's, via a photograph taken by Goodarz Bakhtiary, in London. Forough was a Bakhtiari Tribe’s aristocrat.
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary Wedding Dress and Tiara, Tehran 1951
Soraya was from the powerful Bakhtiari Tribe. His dynasty and family were wealthy and powerful Khan and Arbab (Feudal) large land and farm owners.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (center) Salutes with General Fazlollah Zahedi (left), the Coup, Tehran 1953
On 1953, by the popular demand and the Prime Minister Mossadegh, a revolt occurred, the Shah fled and abandoned Iran (Shah’s First Exile 1953). For 2 days Mossadegh and Jebhe Meli (his party) ruled Iran. Next, CIA backed the Shah and conducted a coup in Iran. The theoretician of the coup was General Fazlollah Zahedi which after the coup’s success, Shah gave him the title of “Taj Bakhsh” (Crown Granter) because it was due to him that Shah regained his crown. Shah never forgot this great favor and General Zahedi, his son Ardeshir Zahedi and his family always had important positions and roles in the Shah’s regime.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary in the 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary in Rome, Italy 1953
They made quite a fashion statement!
Shah was vacationing in Caspian Sea shores (with Soraya) when he learned of Mossadegh ordering his arrest; therefore, he fled to Iraq and from there to Rome, Italy.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary taking a walk in Rome, Italy 1953
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary in 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary carriage ride
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary at the San Souci Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary on the ship at San Francisco, California, USA 1954
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary at picnic
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Air Force Military Suit with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Military Uniform with Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary meeting with Richard and Pat Nixon in the1950s.
Richard Nixon at the time was the VP of President Dwight Eisenhower. Later on, Nixon became the US president. Nixon was always a firm supporter of the Shah and he had never abandoned him. Carter and Democrats on the contrary had always betrayed the Shah and Iran.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary meeting with Winston Churchill
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary meeting with Winston Churchill in the 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary meeting with Winston Churchill 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi skiing at the ski piste
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary with a fashionable hat
Soraya was always a sex symbol. She dressed up like a fashion model and she was always the center of the party and star of the show. After divorce, she had actually become a model and an actress.
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary the sexy Queen of Iran
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary pose with the roses
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary in Elegant Dress
Soraya the same as Fawzia Fuad was a powerful, independent, strong willed and wealthy woman. The difference was that the Fawzia’s marriage to the Shah was an arranged marriage and not a marriage of love; however, Soraya loved Shah and indeed Shah worshipped her. Soraya was the only woman that Shah was ever “in love” with. Shah had 3 wives, many girlfriends, various lovers, tons of mistresses and God knows how many one-night stands. Shah loved a few women such as Farah Diba but Soraya was Shah’s only true love. Despite all the love and admiration, it came down to the point that even Soraya could not take Shah’s promiscuousness and playboy behavior. Soraya was basically fed up with Shah’s infidelities. In addition, Soraya could not bare children and Shah needed an earl. Shah offered Soraya, if he could marry a second wife to bear children? Soraya in return offered Shah to abdicate the crown on behalf of his half-brother Shahpour Gholamreza so they could live together! When Shah refused, Soraya left Iran in anger and divorced Shah. Unlike the common belief and the Darbar’s official story, Shah did not divorce Soraya because she could not bare children but the reality was that Soraya divorced Shah mainly because of his infidelities and ultimately wanting to marry a second wife! Soraya was a powerful Bakhtiari aristocrat and a wealthy woman. She could care less to be the Queen of Iran. She married for love and when this love faded away, she dumped Shah. The amazing and interesting point is that Shah cared for Soraya until his death. Soraya also deeply cared for Shah until his death. She even wanted to visit him on his death bed, in private without Farah present. President Sadat of Egypt arranged the trip but by then it was too late and the Shah passed away. Soraya was the only woman that Shah truly loved.
Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Profile Portrait
The official signed autographed photo of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for General Fazlollah Zahedi for the Coup of 1953 and granting him the crown.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in uniform at Tehran
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi boating and swimming at the Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi boating and swimming at the Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955 -
Cover of Life Magazine
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi boating and swimming at the Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi enjoys boating and swimming at the Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi plays shuffleboard on the ship at the Miami Beach, Florida, USA 1955
Enzo Ferrari handing the keys of a 1957 Ferrari 410 Super-America to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary at Italy 1957
Enzo Ferrari discussing the Ferrari purchase with Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Shahbanu Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary at Italy 1957
Enzo Ferrari discussing the Ferraris with Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi at Italy 1957. Shah was a sports car enthusiast and so was Enzo Ferrari. These two could talk hours about fast cars, engines, specifications and races.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi shooting a revolver gun. Shah was a fine marksman and a great gun enthusiast.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi shooting a rifle. Shah was a fine marksman and a gun collector.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi test shooting a gift rifle from Liaqat Ali Khan of Pakistan. Shah was a fine marksman and a gun collector.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi the Cowboy rides a horse while later on inspecting the irrigation system at Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Shah was a fine rider and a horse enthusiast.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi riding a horse. Shah enjoyed horseback riding.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi skiing with his advisor Ernest Perron (left) and Badrei (right) 1950s
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Water Skiing
Shah was a solid athlete. He did athletics through all of his life. Shah was in to horseback riding, skiing, water sports, soccer, shooting, motorcycle riding, sports car driving, gym and other sports. He always kept fit and in shape.
Princess Shams Pahlavi in scout uniform aiding war-stricken people of Iran 1946
Shams Pahlavi was quite a character. She was Shah’s older sister. Shams was a charitable woman involved in various charities. Shams was a private person with her palace in Mehr-Shahr near Karaj, now in Alborz Province which was a futuristic work of art. Shams lived away from the Tehran. Pearl Palace (Kakh-e Morvarid) was an amazing structure. Basically, Shams built Mehr-Shahr and turned it to a city. She sold a great part of her land near the palace to the insiders of Darbar and Kabine. Her palace and the estates around it were part of a gated community with guards protecting them. We also had an estate in Mehr-Shahr near her palace. I remember that every time we went there, some of the guards mistaken my father with Prince Shahpour Gholamreza because he was driving a convertible red T-Bird sportscar like Shahpour Gholamreza and he was also tall and looked pretty much like Shahpour Gholamreza! The guards always saluted him everywhere but when they assumed, he is Shahpour Gholamreza, they would over salute him! Shams was an intelligent, charitable and a gentle woman. Shams was mostly a hermit away from Darbar and Tehran but in certain occasions she attended the important family and formal gatherings. I particularly remember the Pearl Palace because we often visited there. Shams was a lovely respectable lady.
Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, Shah’s Twin Sister
Ashraf was a strong woman with strong will. Many stated that she had to rule Iran instead of the Shah because she was powerful and firm. The Shiite Islamic Iranian law during the Pahlavis did not allow women to rule Iran. In Pre-Islamic Persian Empire various women ruled Iran as Empress but the reactionary Shiite Islamic Laws forbid women to be heads of state. That was the reason for Shah always wanting a baby boy as his earl. Ashraf was also a nationalist and loved Iran. Ashraf was indeed the same as Mohammad Reza, very promiscuous. Ashraf’s various husbands, boyfriends, lovers and one-night stands, also her lavish parties with Darbari opium (best quality) and expensive alcoholic drinks were legendary. Many insiders of Darbar (Courthouse) and Kabine (Cabinet) sincerely believed that Ashraf had more balls than the Shah. This myth become more believed when Shah once more (like 1953) fled and abandoned Iran in 1979. Many believed if Ashraf was the monarch, she would never wait Carter’s orders to fight the Islamists. She would remain in Iran and order the troops to kill a great number of Islamic Revolutionaries to save Iran. Ashraf was quite a lioness.
Princess Ashraf Pahlavi on the horseback. Ashraf was a fine horseback rider.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi walks the palace, Tehran 1958
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