Consider This from NPR Why some Iranian Americans back the war on their country of origin
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Mar 29, 2026 
Ramtin Arablouei, co-host of ThruLine and reporter on Iranian-American politics, offers on-the-ground perspective. He describes rallies on the National Mall, the mix of flags and alliances, nostalgia for pre-1979 Iran, symbolic support for Reza Pahlavi, and how diverse diaspora voices converge on ending the Islamic Republic.
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Flags, Chants, And Enemy Of My Enemy Logic
- At the National Mall rally, attendees included Iranian-Americans holding American and even Israeli flags alongside Pahlavi images.
- Ramtin reported chants like "this is the final battle, Pahlavi will return" and attendees explained "enemy of my enemy" reasoning.
Pahlavi Serves As Symbolic Focal Point
- Many Iranian-American protesters rally behind Reza Pahlavi as a symbolic transitional leader rather than endorsing monarchy permanently.
- Ramtin Arablouei observed crowds on the National Mall carrying pre-1979 Lion and Sun flags and Pahlavi portraits expressing nostalgic longing for pre-revolution Iran.
Nostalgia Drives Preference For Old Regime Imagery
- Nostalgia for pre-revolutionary Iran fuels support for a return to a figure like Reza Pahlavi despite his father's authoritarian rule.
- Arablouei and expert Holly Dagress note viral photos and documentaries amplify idealized memories of the Shah-era.