Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was doused with a red liquid Thursday as he exited a venue in Berlin shortly after speaking to reporters. The incident happened outside Germany’s federal press conference building, where Pahlavi had just criticized a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Despite the surprise attack, he did not appear injured and acknowledged supporters before getting into a vehicle and leaving, according to the Associated Press. Authorities later said the substance looked like tomato juice, and a suspect was quickly taken into custody. The individual’s identity has not been disclosed due to German privacy laws.
Now 65, Pahlavi is the son of Iran’s former shah, whose rule ended in 1979 after massive public protests forced him out. Although Pahlavi has lived in exile for nearly five decades, he continues to present himself as a potential figure in Iran’s future leadership, though the extent of his support داخل the country remains uncertain. During his Berlin appearance—where he did not meet with any government officials—he argued that the ceasefire relies too heavily on the assumption that Iran’s leadership will change its approach.
He expressed skepticism that such a shift would occur, stating that while diplomacy should not be dismissed outright, it has already been given ample opportunity. Pahlavi has voiced support for U.S. and Israeli military involvement in the region and is positioning himself as an alternative should Iran’s current Shiite-led government collapse. While in Berlin, he also urged European nations to increase their backing for Iranians advocating for democratic reforms. He claimed that in the past two weeks alone, 19 political prisoners had been executed in Iran, with 20 more individuals reportedly facing death sentences. He challenged Western nations to act, warning against remaining passive in the face of what he described as ongoing repression.
