{{Short description|Political phrase for the Iranian Monarchy}} {{about|a political slogan among the Iranian opposition|the character in Ackley Bridge series 2|Characters of Ackley Bridge#Javid Shah}} [[File:Portrait officiel de la famille impériale d'Iran (1978).jpg|right|thumb|Official portrait of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1978]] {{Mohammad Reza Pahlavi series}}
'''Javid Shah''' ({{langx|fa|جاوید شاه||Long live the Shah}}) is a phrase in support of the monarchs of Iran. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the phrase has also become a political slogan used by many in the Iranian opposition to demonstrate opposition to the Islamic Republic by advocating for either the full restoration of the Pahlavi dynasty or just the return of Reza Pahlavi to lead the planned transitional government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winston |first=Alex |title='Javid Shah!' Why Iranians are calling for the return of the Pahlavis and their monarchy |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=1 January 2026 |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-882053 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Qiblawi |first=Tamara |title=The son of Iran's last shah is rallying protesters. But do Iranians really want another king? |publisher=CNN |date=9 January 2026 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/middleeast/analysis-does-iran-want-shah-son-pahlavi-latam-intl }}</ref>
== History == === Early use === During the Pahlavi era, the phrase "Javid Shah" was commonly used in official ceremonies and in public spaces. At the time, usage of the phrase was more a "psychological and social adaptation to the established order" rather than a sign of conscious political action.<ref name="Symbol">{{Cite web |title=نکته به نکته ۵۰۴: «جاوید شاه»: دگردیسی یک سمبل از انطباق با قدرت تا مقاومت سیاسی |trans-title=Note to Note 504: "Javid Shah": The Metamorphosis of a Symbol from Compliance with Power to Political Resistance |date= |url=https://iranshahrnewsagency.com/NewsDetails.aspx?ItemId=77500 }}</ref>
After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the new revolutionary government banned all symbols of the Iranian monarchy, including the phrase "Javid Shah": violations risked arrest, torture, or even death. Owing to this, the phrase has become an act of opposition towards the government. A notable usage was from Mehdi Rahimi, who was a lieutenant general during the Pahlavi dynasty and was set to be executed by the Iranian government.<ref name=amnrep>{{cite web|title=Law And Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran |url=http://www.ihrv.org/inf/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/law_and_human_rights_in_the_islamic_republic_of_iran_february_through_september19791.pdf |publisher=Amnesty International |accessdate=3 August 2013 |format=Report |date=February 1980 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510192451/http://www.ihrv.org/inf/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/law_and_human_rights_in_the_islamic_republic_of_iran_february_through_september19791.pdf |archive-date= 10 May 2010 }}</ref> Before being shot, he shouted "Javid Shah" in salute to express his loyalty to the Iranian monarchy.<ref name="cyrus">{{cite web|author=Cyrus Kadivar |url=http://www.iranian.com/History/2001/February/Rahimi/index.html|title=General Rahimi|work=The Iranian|accessdate=3 August 2013}}</ref> Since then, the phrase has become a form of "resistance and political protest".<ref>{{Cite web |title=تداوم خیزش ملّی در چهارشنبه سوری؛ از رقص و روسریسوزی تا شعار «جاوید شاه»: مردم مرعوب سرکوبها نشدهاند |trans-title=Continuation of the national uprising on Wednesday; from dancing and burning scarves to the slogan "Javid Shah": People are not intimidated by repression |publisher=Kayhan London |url=https://kayhan.london/1401/12/24/315022/ |language=fa }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=شعار جاویدشاه در اعتراض به حبس کارگران فولاد |trans-title=Javid shah's slogan in protest against the imprisonment of steel workers |publisher=Radio Farda |url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-protester-writes-long-live-shah-in-kish/29662958.html |language=fa }}</ref>
=== Rise in popularity === During the 2019–2020 Iranian protests, there were increasing calls from certain protesters for the restoration of the Pahlavi dynasty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=چه شد که ایرانیان از «یاحسین، میرحسین» به «پهلوی برمیگرده» رسیدند؟ |trans-title=What happened that made Iranians go from "Yah Hossein, Mir Hossein" to "Pahlavi is returning"? |publisher=Iran International |url=https://www.iranintl.com/fa/202512300169 }}</ref> The slogan became more prominent during the Mahsa Amini protests among the Iranian opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=شعار «جاوید شاه» ایرانیان در لندن همزمان با حمایت از تروریستینامیدن سپاه |trans-title=Iranians in London chant "Javid Shah" while supporting the IRGC's call for terrorism |publisher=Voice of America Persian |url=https://ir.voanews.com/a/irgc-protest-london-iran-/7071688.html }}</ref> Thereafter, during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, this slogan resurged in popularity along with several other pro-Pahlavi slogans, such as "This is the final battle, Pahlavi will return" and "Reza Shah, bless your soul".<ref>{{Cite web |title=فریاد خیابان از «رای من کو؟» تا «جاوید شاه»؛ راه آزادی به پهلوی رسید |trans-title=The cry of the street from "Where is my vote?" to "Javid Shah"; the path to freedom reached Pahlavi |publisher=Independent Persian |url=https://www.independentpersian.com/node/418549/%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C/%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%C2%C2%AB%C3%98%C2%B1%C3%98%C2%A7%C3%9B%C2%8C-%C3%99%C2%85%C3%99%C2%86-%C3%9A%C2%A9%C3%99%C2%88%C3%98%C2%9F%C2%C2%BB-%C3%98%C2%AA%C3%98%C2%A7-%C2%C2%AB%C3%98%C2%AC%C3%98%C2%A7%C3%99%C2%88%C3%9B%C2%8C%C3%98%C2%AF-%C3%98%C2%B4%C3%98%C2%A7%C3%99%C2%87%C2%C2%BB%C3%98%C2%9B-%C3%98%C2%B1%C3%98%C2%A7%C3%99%C2%87-%C3%98%C2%A2%C3%98%C2%B2%C3%98%C2%A7%C3%98%C2%AF%C3%9B%C2%8C-%C3%98%C2%A8%C3%99%C2%87-%C3%99%C2%BE%C3%99%C2%87%C3%99%C2%84%C3%99%C2%88%C3%9B%C2%8C-%C3%98%C2%B1%C3%98%C2%B3%C3%9B%C2%8C%C3%98%C2%AF |language=fa }}</ref> There were several instances of the phrase being displayed in public places, including one in Isfahan<ref>{{Cite web |title=شعار «جاوید شاه» روی تابلوی خیابان در اصفهان |trans-title=The slogan "Javid Shah" on a street sign in Isfahan |publisher=Iran International |date=1 January 2026 |url=https://www.iranintl.com/fa/202601011531 }}</ref> and another in Qom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=شعار جاویدشاه به قم رسید |trans-title=The slogan of Javid Shah reached Qom |publisher=Iran International |url=https://www.iranintl.com/fa/202601018144 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{2025–2026 Iranian protests}} Category:Iranian political phrases Category:Slogans Category:2025–2026 Iranian protests Category:Protests in Iran Category:Opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran Category:Monarchism in Iran