It was previously thought they were lost or destroyed when his tomb was ransacked during the Revolution. It creates a dilemma for the Islamic Republic's rulers. If they rebury him respectfully, as his grandson Prince Reza is calling for, they risk the grave becoming a pilgrimage site for monarchists and others who may be opposition-minded, even if not monarchist. (Shades of Louis Philippe re-interring the remains of Napoleon in Les Invalides when the possibility of a Bonaparte Restoration seemed farcical.) On the other hand, if they are not respectful of the remains, they risk giving an excuse for anti-regime demonstrations. It will be interesting to see what they choose to do.
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