Reza Pahlavi says a democratic Iran under his leadership would seek strong relations with India. He speaks of shared values, technology partnerships and energy cooperation. But India’s caution comes from history. The last Pahlavi ruler maintained close strategic ties with Pakistan and openly opposed India during key wars and on Kashmir. After the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s relative neutrality helped India protect interests like Chabahar Port and regional connectivity beyond Pakistan. A Pahlavi restoration, likely backed by Western powers, could redraw Iran’s alliances and complicate India’s position in West Asia. While economic opportunities may exist, New Delhi’s real concern is whether Iran’s future choices will protect India’s strategic interests or revive old alignments that once worked against them.