In a weekend marked by secrecy, White House envoy Steve Witkoff is said to have convened with exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi. This meeting comes at a time when Iran is gripped by escalating protests against its ruling regime.
The details of this clandestine conversation were first brought to light by Axios, which referenced a senior U.S. official. According to the report, this marks the first significant dialogue between the Trump administration and Iranian opposition figures since the recent surge of anti-government demonstrations began over a fortnight ago. Pahlavi has been positioning himself as a potential “transitional” leader should the current regime be overthrown.
Reza Pahlavi’s father, the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was ousted during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a pivotal event that transitioned Iran from a monarchy to an Islamic republic.
During a press conference in Paris, Reza Pahlavi underscored his political aspirations amid the current unrest. His potential role in Iran’s future has gained visibility, particularly as his name echoes through protest chants across the nation.
A senior U.S. official, who spoke to Axios, expressed surprise at the resurgence of Pahlavi’s prominence among demonstrators. “There has been an ascendance of Pahlavi. They are chanting his name in demonstrations in many cities and it seems to be happening organically,” the official observed, underscoring the spontaneous nature of this support.
“There has been an ascendance of Pahlavi. They are chanting his name in demonstrations in many cities and it seems to be happening organically,” the U.S. official told Axios.
Pahlavi has recently urged President Donald Trump to intervene, praising him as a “man of peace.”
“Mr. President, this is an urgent and immediate call for your attention, support, and action,” Pahlavi wrote in a Jan. 9 post on X. He accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of using the blackout to carry out a brutal crackdown and encouraged Trump to “be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran.”
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Trump recently said in an interview with Hugh Hewitt that Iran has “been told very strongly, even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now, that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” according to The Associated Press. However, in the same interview, the president seemed to cast doubt on the idea that he would meet with Pahlavi. Witkoff’s meeting would present a significant departure from the president’s recent statements.
While the president has yet to take a public stance in favor of Pahlavi, he has been open about his support for the people of Iran.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!”
Demonstrators burn pictures of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outside the Iranian embassy during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in London, Britain, Jan. 12, 2026. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
In the early days of the protests, Trump warned the regime that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and ready to take action if the Iranian government used violence against protesters. However, the U.S. has yet to make concrete moves despite reports of protesters being killed and Trump’s latest statement.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
