Pahlavi, Reza (1877–1944)

Shah of Iran 1925–41. In 1923 he became prime minister and two years later was elected shah. He embarked on a programme of social and economic modernization. During World War II the allies suspected that he had sympathies with the Axis powers and in 1941 they forced him to abdicate in favour of his son Muhammad Reza Shah.

As a youth he joined the Iranian army, rising to the rank of colonel. At the time, his country was largely controlled by Soviet forces and after a rising led by Pahlavi succeeded in expelling them and deposing the ruling regime, he became minister of war and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.