The Royal Bonds: Family Life of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza’s second marriage to Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari brought him hope for companionship and love. Soraya was admired for her beauty and grace, and the couple was celebrated as symbols of a modernizing monarchy. Yet their marriage was burdened by the Shah’s growing political responsibilities and Soraya’s inability to bear children. The issue of succession became a matter of national concern, ultimately leading to their separation in 1958. This emotional rupture deepened the Shah’s sense of isolation and shaped his later relationships.