When Reza Shah was forced to abdicate in 1941 during World War II and went into exile, Mohammad Reza unexpectedly inherited the throne at the age of twenty-one. This event marked a dramatic shift not only in Iranian history but also in the personal structure of the royal family. The sudden separation from his father and the pressure to rule a divided nation profoundly affected the young Shah. His emotional bond with his exiled father remained strong, though their communication became limited. Reza Shah died in South Africa in 1944, leaving his son with both a political legacy and a psychological burden.
