A member of the exiled former Iranian royal family, she opens up to SEELE about a heritage that she has had to observe from afar- and she talks about her past struggles with depression, her iconic grandmother, being an American, and her hopes for the future

The year is 1979, the country is Iran, and it was in revolt as it had been for some time. Her grandfather, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was the last Shah [King] and he flew himself, his wife and a few aides out of the country for the last time on a Boeing 707. No leading member of the Pahlavi royal family has ever set foot in Iran since.

Noor, the 27-year-old granddaughter of the former Shah and Empress is an American, who has come to know her heritage from afar. And while she has never been to Iran, she feels very much tied to her culture, her roots, and to Iran’s language- Farsi.

Over the years the family has known extreme pain. In 1980 her grandfather Mohammad Pahlavi died, a year and a half after leaving a nation he ruled for 38 years. And an aunt and uncle, both children of the former Shah and Empress would commit suicide, one in 2001 and the other in 2011. Noor comes from a family history filled with sorrows and joys, all of which has shaped the 27-year-old into who she is today.

“I never had the opportunity to see my family’s service firsthand,” muses Noor. “But the vestiges of the development, projects, and progress instituted by my great-grandfather, grandfather, and grandmother remain to this day in the memories and daily lives of Iranians and they remind me of it.”

Having grown up in the Washington, DC area gave Noor the ability to grow up in a free society, a freedom that she longs for in Iran. “The experience I have had living in the United States, I believe, is an asset in supporting my father’s vision and advocacy for democracy, women’s equality, and sustainability for our country. I have grown up in a society where these values are emphasized, and I want them for my own country.”

Today, Iran is going through tremendous struggle. The United States has placed heavy economic sanctions on the country, and riots have been ongoing all around the country, as Iranians have taken to the streets protesting for a better quality of life.

“…my family has done all it could to keep the memory of Iran alive in my heart and those of my sisters despite our never being able to visit or spend time there.”

Both Noor’s parents, exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi and her mother, Yasmine Pahlavi have ensured that all their daughters are connected to Iranian culture, though the family has received criticisms of not being connected enough to their culture. “Though I often hear critiques through social media that I am not in touch enough with my roots, I do not necessarily think these are fair, as my family has done all it could to keep the memory of Iran alive in my heart and those of my sisters despite our never being able to visit or spend time there,” she says.

As we talk, her light brown hair keeps falling down over her left eye but she doesn’t seem to notice. Poised the way princesses are, she rests her hands in her lap and purses her lips. She has a very distinct way of communicating with her lips when they are pursed. She’s eager to get across her love of the culture she comes from, and it is clear that her Persian heritage is a big part of her identity.

“The reality is that I did grow up in exile, and there are surely better representatives out there of the current Iran…”

When home with her parents in the US state of Maryland, or when she visits her grandmother, the former Empress Farah Pahlavi, in the Washington, DC area or at her Paris home, they speak Farsi, and Persian holidays are celebrated. While they are in exile, keeping the Persian culture alive is key for Noor and her family. “We celebrate Persian New Year and other Iranian holidays,” she explains. “We look after each other, get together often, cook Persian food, respect our elders, and have perhaps more rules than most American households I visited growing up.”

“The reality is that I did grow up in exile, and there are surely better representatives out there of the current Iran, though many of them are not permitted to speak out. I would not presume to know more about the circumstances there than its citizens, but all I can do is read the messages of those who reach out to me, study the data available, and try to use my voice to lend support to the causes that do not seem to garner enough attention on their own.”

Cultural identity is a big part of a person’s life and for Noor, it’s palpable that being in exile comes with its burdens, the burden of not being able to touch your country, in your country. “Of course, my family’s fondest memories are from Iran, and as a result we often hear stories of our homeland,” she tells me. “But more than that, we are always thinking of Iran, of the Iranian people and how we can serve them. My father does this out of a love for his country and a deep sense of duty. I watched him dedicate his life to building a better Iran from the sidelines, which has been a constant uphill battle.”

Grandmother and Granddaughter

The former empress and her granddaughter are extremely close. Perusing through Noor’s Instastories, the two are often together sharing a meal or attending a wedding together. A grandmother and a friend to Noor, the former empress is also a mentor. “My grandmother has taught me so much, by example, about dealing with loss,” says Noor. “She has always shown such strength and grace in the face of all she has suffered and she has been a critical support system for each of us every day. She has also taught me the importance of respecting all living things and having a deep sense of empathy. Her love of animals and nature has inspired a lot of the work I do with animal rescue and advocacy. Whenever I ask her where she gets her strength, she says she gets so much love from her dog, Mowgli, every day and it keeps her going.”

It’s no secret that animals are a big part of the family. But Noor has received backlash on social media for her love of them, from people who feel she should be focused on Iran’s children and the needy. But Noor clarifies that her love of animals is more than just a love of animals. “The reality is that I feel indebted to animals, because in a lot of ways they supported my family in the times where they were most alone.”

Caring for her homeland from afar

But Noor does take steps to do as much as she can for Iran, from afar, as an advisor to the non-profit impact investment fund Acumen. “Though it may not be as prominently featured online, I have spent a lot of time, particularly this year, trying to find ways to support Iran and its needy despite my limited access and inability to enter the country. It is of great interest to the non-profit I have partnered with, Acumen, to take on a greater role in Iran and the Middle Eastern region and we are in the process of sorting out logistics of doing so.”

She’s now getting her MBA at Columbia University in New York City. A city that she loves for its excitement, and where she lives during her studies. Thinking of herself as entrepreneurial, Noor desires to continue helping organizations like Acumen obtain the means and reach to impact as many lives as possible so that the world can get closer to becoming a world of equal opportunity and respect for people. “I so easily could have been born in a different part of the world, and by sheer luck, I am in a position to go to business school and become anything I want. This was not because I earned it, but because I got lucky. It’s my duty to remember how fortunate I am and help those who are not in my position and looking for opportunity.” 

“In the past, I have struggled with depression, which has been prominent in my family…”

A candid discussion about mental health

But then our interview takes a different turn, when I ask what’s the best piece of advice she has ever received, and Noor opens up about her mental health, and her past struggle with depression. “In the past, I have struggled with depression, which has been prominent in my family.”

I find it bold and strong of her to share her struggle, in hopes that it might empower others. But it’s a time when other young royals around the world are speaking up about mental health like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “When I was last feeling low, my mother sent me some reading material about redirecting repetitive, negative thought patterns in order to break the cycle. Feeling like I had the power to change my thoughts and emotional responses to different events helped me a great deal.”

Quoting from former American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Noor goes onto say, “it comes down to the fact that ‘no person or thing can make you feel any way without your consent.’ I think remembering that is good advice during challenging times.”

Burning Question

I just had to ask, as her father is the exiled crown prince, that if Iran still had a monarchy, would she be its future monarch? Noor carefully answers, “If Iran were a monarchy, and the revolution had not happened, I suppose I would. I believe those who refer to me that way today, do so as a way to show support to my family and its legacy. Still, I try to do my best not to disappoint those who see me that way and to step up to this responsibility in the ways I know how.”

With her aim to finish her studies in New York, Noor will continue her advisory and non-profit work, while keeping her hopes high for a country that she has always had to observe from afar.