The political climate during the 1980s and beyond created an atmosphere in which many members of the former royal family were hesitant to speak out, fearing political backlash or further alienation from both the regime in power and their supporters. Though she never returned, Shams Pahlavi’s connections with the diaspora were significant. She maintained relationships with other exiled members of the royal family and elites, even as the country continued to evolve politically under the Islamic Republic.
