Chicago – January 14, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi’s ability to rally support inside Iran amid ongoing protests against the clerical regime.
In an exclusive Reuters interview from the Oval Office on January 14, Trump described the 65-year-old son of Iran’s last shah as “very nice” but uncertain how he would “play within his own country.” “We really aren’t up to that point yet. I don’t know whether or not his country would accept his leadership, and certainly if they would, that would be fine with me,” Trump stated.
Pahlavi, exiled since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has emerged as a key figure among monarchists in Iran’s fragmented opposition, which lacks unified presence.
Trump, who has threatened intervention to back protesters—where thousands reportedly died in crackdowns—suggested Tehran’s government could collapse, noting “any regime can fail.” The remarks follow Trump’s recent refusal to meet Pahlavi.
