India’s problems may increase due to the return of Raza Pahlavi to Iran, what is the reason for concern?

Iran is once again going through a period of serious political turmoil. In the harsh winter of January 2026, massive protests are being seen on the streets from Tehran to Mashhad. One name is continuously resonating in these demonstrations – Reza Pahlavi. Reza Pahlavi is the son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who had to leave the country after the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

The protesters are angry with the rule of current supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and are demanding change. Many people are seeing the return of the Shah family as a solution. At first glance this may appear to be a fight for democracy and freedom, but if seen from India’s perspective. If we turn the pages of history, this situation is quite complicated for India.

Shah’s era: difficult times for India

Before 1979, there was Shah rule in Iran and at that time relations between Iran and Pakistan were very strong. Shah considered Pakistan essential for his security and saw it as a security wall. Iran had openly supported Pakistan during the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971.

Historical documents show that Iran provided fuel to Pakistan and also gave its fighter planes for help. When the Indian Air Force overpowered Pakistan, Pakistani planes even found shelter at Iranian airports. Shah also gave statements against India in international forums. At that time both Iran and Pakistan were part of the US-backed bloc, while India was closer to the Soviet Union. For this reason, Shah’s Iran was in a way an ‘enemy’s friend’ for India.

Equation changed after Islamic revolution

Ayatollah Khamenei came to power after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The world thought that a fanatic religious rule would be a problem for a country like India, but with time the picture turned out to be different. Geopolitics opened new doors. The distance in relations between Iran and Pakistan increased during the Ayatollah rule. Iran declared America its enemy, while Pakistan remained close to America.

Apart from this, Shia-Sunni tension and the role of Saudi Arabia also weakened Iran-Pakistan relations. During this period, India and Iran came closer to each other. In the 1990s, India and Iran together supported the Northern Alliance against the Taliban in Afghanistan. This was the period when the strategic relations between the two countries became the strongest. Projects like Chabahar port became very important for India.

What will change with the return of Reza Pahlavi?

Now if Raza Pahlavi or any pro-West government comes to power in Iran, the situation may change for India. Raza Pahlavi lives in America and is considered close to Western countries. In such a situation, relations between Iran and America can improve, due to which Pakistan can get Iran’s support again.

This may impact India’s strategic plans. The importance of Chabahar port may reduce and new equations may be created between Pakistan-China-Iran. There is a possibility of Iran’s stance changing on issues like Kashmir, because the Shah family has historically been inclined towards Pakistan.

Challenges will increase for India

The Iranian people’s desire for independence must be understood and respected, but international politics is not driven by emotions. The truth is that till now an isolated Iran has proved more strategically useful for India. If Iran moves completely closer to America and Pakistan, then new challenges may arise for India.