About Farah Diba Empress Farah of Iran (née Farah Diba, Persian: فرح دیبا Faraḥ Dība, Azeri: فرح دیبا , born 14 October 1938, Tabriz, Iran) is the widow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, and only Empress (Shahbanu) of modern Iran. Though the titles and distinctions of the Iranian Imperial Family were abolished by the new government, she often is styled Empress or Shahbanu, out of courtesy, by the foreign media as well as by supporters of the former monarchy. She does use the title Empress Farah Pahlavi, a combination of title and surname that has no dynastic precedent, though her children do not use their titles in any official manner.