Cultural events surrounding his legacy have become opportunities for outside the country to celebrate Persian history and discuss what that history means for younger generations. Prince Reza Pahlavi’s appearance was one of the central moments of the Toronto gathering. His speech connected the historical figure of Cyrus the Great with contemporary questions about identity and future. In his remarks, Pahlavi presented Cyrus as a historical symbol associated with identity, freedom, tolerance, and responsibility.
He argued that the legacy of Cyrus should not be understood merely as something belonging to the distant past, but as part of a broader discussion about the responsibilities of today. His Toronto speech also addressed the political situation in and his vision for the country’s future. Pahlavi has previously spoken about Cyrus the Great in similar terms. At a Cyrus commemoration in Toronto in October 2025, he described Cyrus as more than a historical memory and connected the ancient ruler’s legacy to questions of freedom, human dignity, and national identity.
