US President Donald Trump has said he will not meet Iran’s self-declared Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. According to reports, this shows that the United States is not ready to support any single leader to replace Iran’s current government if it falls.
On Thursday, Although Trump called Pahlavi a “nice person”, he made it clear that meeting him as president would not be right. “I think that we should let everybody go out there and see who emerges,” Trump told The Hugh Hewitt Show podcast. “I’m not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do.”
Trump says meeting Iran’s ‘Crown Prince’ Pahlavi would not be appropriate. “I think that we should let everybody go out there and see who emerges”, signal that US has not backed Pahlavi’s offer to “lead [a] transition” governance in Iran.https://t.co/XUu5eR4SUV via @AJEnglish
— Norm Roulet (@NormRoulet) January 9, 2026
This statement shows that Trump wants Iranians themselves to decide who leads them, rather than the US picking someone in advance.
Who Is Reza Pahlavi?
Reza Pahlavi is the son of Iran’s last king, or shah, who was removed during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He lives in the United States and presents himself as a possible future leader of Iran. Reza Pahlavi leads a monarchist group within Iran’s divided opposition. This group wants to bring back a system linked to Iran’s former royal family. He has close ties to Israel and has offered to lead transition if Iran’s current government collapses. But Trump’s remarks show that the US has not accepted that offer.
Iran Facing Protests and Internet Blackout
Iran is now dealing with widespread protests in many cities. These protests started because of economic problems, especially after the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, fell sharply under heavy US sanctions.
What began as protests about money and jobs soon turned into bigger protests against the government. To slow down the movement, Iranian authorities shut off the internet on Thursday. This was likely done to stop people from organizing and sharing information.
Despite the blackout, Pahlavi claimed that large numbers of people still went out to protest. He wrote that “millions of Iranians” took part.
Many videos circulating on social media also show rising tension and unrest across Iran.
More footage of the protest in iran tonight pic.twitter.com/dMjkLkPSRK
— GMan (Ґленн) ☘️🇬🇧🇺🇦🇺🇸🇵🇱🇮🇱🍊🌻 (@FAB87F) January 8, 2026
Trump Warns Iran Against Killing Protesters
Trump warned Iran that there would be serious consequences if security forces attack civilians. “They’re doing very poorly. And I have let them know that if they start killing people – which they tend to do during their riots, they have lots of riots – if they do it, we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump said.
This shows that Trump is prepared to use force if protesters are harmed.
Pahlavi Thanks Trump
Reza Pahlavi publicly thanked Trump for his tough position on Iran. “I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account,” he wrote.
He also urged other countries to step up. “It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran.”
🚨 BREAKING: Reza Pahlavi says “millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight” 🇮🇷✊
Thanks 🇺🇸 President Trump for reaffirming his promise to hold the regime accountable.📍 Across Iran: Mass chants for freedom echo nationwide#Iran #RezaPahlavi #FreeIran #RegimeChange… pic.twitter.com/rEQq9ekfCX
— GLOBAL PULSE 360 (@DataIsKnowldge) January 9, 2026
Rising Tensions Between the US and Iran
Last month, Trump again threatened to strike Iran if it rebuilds its nuclear or missile programs. In June, the US bombed Iran’s three main nuclear sites. This happened during a war that Israel launched against Iran.
These attacks added to Iran’s political and economic pressure.
Iran Struggling on Many Fronts
Along with protests and sanctions, Iran is also facing environmental problems, including severe water shortages. These issues have made daily life harder and increased public anger.
Iran’s foreign influence has also weakened. Several of its allies have been hit hard:
-
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024
-
Hezbollah was badly damaged by Israeli attacks
-
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was abducted by the US
These losses have reduced Iran’s power in the region.
🇮🇷 BREAKING: From his balcony, an Iranian man pleads directly to President Trump:
“Please, Mr. Trump, help Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi return. The Ayatollah is killing our children.” pic.twitter.com/uNLJNX5NCw
— Tarique Hussain (@Tarique18386095) January 9, 2026
Iran’s Leader Defies the US
Despite these setbacks, Iran’s top leader Ali Khamenei rejected US pressure.
After a US raid in Caracas, he posted a strong message: “We will not give in to the enemy,” Khamenei wrote. “We will bring the enemy to its knees.” This shows that Iran’s leadership is not backing down, even as unrest grows inside the country.
