Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid on Thursday as he left a building in Berlin, following a news conference where he criticized the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
Incident Details
The incident occurred outside Germany's federal press conference building. Pahlavi had just concluded a briefing and was exiting the premises when an individual targeted him with red liquid. After the attack, Pahlavi waved to his supporters before entering a vehicle and departing. Police immediately detained the alleged perpetrator.
Pahlavi's Background
Reza Pahlavi, 65, is the son of Iran's former shah, who was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution amid widespread public discontent. Despite nearly 50 years in exile, Pahlavi is positioning himself as a potential future leader in Iran, though his level of support within the country remains uncertain.
Criticism of Ceasefire
During his visit to Berlin, Pahlavi was not invited to meet with any government representatives. He argued that the ceasefire agreement assumes the Iranian government will change its behavior, saying, "you're going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists." He added, "I don't see that happening. I'm not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance, but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance."
Political Stance and Calls for Action
Pahlavi is vying for a return to power should the Shiite theocracy collapse and has expressed support for U.S.-Israeli military intervention in the Middle East. In Berlin, he called on European nations to do more to support Iranians fighting for democracy. He claimed that 19 political prisoners were executed by Iranian authorities in the past two weeks and another 20 people have been sentenced to death. "Will the free world do something, or watch the slaughter in silence?" Pahlavi questioned.
