Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He was educated in Switzerland and was familiar with the western ideas. In 1941, Britain and USSR occupied Iran and forced Reza Shah the Great to resign in favor of his son. Later the young Shah became the most important ally to the West in the Middle East. With Iran's great oil wealth, the Shah became the pre-eminent leader of the Middle East, and Guardian of the Persian Gulf. He abolished the multi-party system of government such that he could rule through a one-party regime in autocratic fashion. He made major changes to curb certain ancient elite factions by breaking up all large and middle-sized estates for the benefit of more than six million small farmers. In what was called 'the White Revolution', he took a number of populist measures, including extending suffrage to women, to favor the people. He instituted exams for Islamic theologians to become established priests ("Mullahs"), which were widely unpopular and broke centuries old religious traditions. His policies led to strong economic growth during the 1960s and 1970s but at the same time, opposition to his autocratic rule increased. On January 18, 1979, he and his family left Iran after over a year of uprising and he didn't want for a civil war to break out in the country. Following the Shah's departure, conservative Muslims led by Ayatollah Khomeini who had returned from exile, staged a revolution. And abolished the monarchy and sadly established an Islamic Republic that ruined the country and led to the pointless eight year Iran-Iraq war in which both countries suffered and incredible amount of unnecessary losses. In the same time, The Shah's cancer had worsened and after two years of exile, in which traveling from country to country seeking what he hoped in his exile, would be merely a temporary residence. He was welcomed by President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, and remained there until his death on June 27, 1980. He is interred at Al-Refai Mosque in Egypt.

Has a daughter from his first marriage to Queen Fawzia of Egypt: Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi, born 27 October 1940.Children by Empress Farah: Crown Prince Cyrus Reza Pahlavi, born October 31 1960; Princess Yasmina Farahnaz Pahlavi, born March 12 1963; Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi, born April 29 1966; Princess Leila Pahlavi, born March 27 1970, died 10 June, 2001.Shah and ruler of Iran from 1941-1979.Father of late HIH Princess Leila Pahlavi .Father of HIM Prince Reza Pahlavi .Father of HIH Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi .Father of HIH Princess Masumeh Fahranaz Pahlavi .Iran under the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in fact was the first Muslim country to recognize Israel and established close ties that lasted till 1979 Islamic Revolution.Father of Prince Reza Pahlavi , the heir to the throne of Iran.