Washington, D.C. | January 15, 2026
In an exclusive Oval Office interview, US President Donald Trump raised doubts about whether Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi—the 65-year-old son of Iran’s last shah—could command broad support inside Iran as anti-government protests continue to escalate.
Trump described Pahlavi as “a very nice man” but questioned whether Iranians would embrace him as a national leader.
“I don’t know how he’d play within his own country,” Trump said. “I don’t know whether or not his country would accept his leadership.”
While the President added that Pahlavi’s leadership would be “fine with me” if it reflected “the will of the Iranian people,” he also clarified that he has no plans to meet the exile figure.
Remarks Come as Iran Faces Deadly Crackdown
Trump’s comments follow reports of thousands of deaths in Iran linked to a severe crackdown on nationwide protests against clerical rule. The unrest has intensified calls for political reform, though the fractured nature of Iran’s opposition continues to complicate any unified alternative to the regime.
Trump: ‘An Interesting Period of Time’ for Iran
Calling the moment “an interesting period of time,” Trump suggested the ruling establishment may be facing unprecedented pressure but avoided directly endorsing regime change.
He noted that supporters of Pahlavi—particularly monarchists—remain poorly organized inside Iran, limiting their ability to influence current events.
A Cautious US Posture on Iranian Opposition
The remarks reflect the administration’s careful approach to Iran’s internal political dynamics. While critical of Tehran’s crackdown, Trump refrained from aligning the US with any specific leadership figure or transition plan.
As protests continue and political uncertainty deepens, Washington appears focused on monitoring developments without actively promoting any particular alternative to Iran’s current government.
