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Trump: Reza Pahlavi Doesn't Know if He Can Lead in Iran

Published January 15, 2026, 06:11
Trump: Reza Pahlavi Doesn't Know if He Can Lead in Iran

US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, is a “very nice” man, but questioned whether he could garner enough support to lead the country if the Islamic Republic collapses. In an exclusive interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, the Republican president also blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the deadlock in negotiations to end the nearly four-year-old war with Russia, while downplaying criticism from his party regarding a potential investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention to support protesters in Iran, where thousands of people have been killed in demonstrations that initially focused on economic grievances but evolved into an uprising against the clerical regime. However, he appeared hesitant on Wednesday to endorse Reza Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “He seems very nice, but I don’t know how he would handle things in his country. And we’re not there yet,” Trump said. “I don’t know whether or not the country would accept his leadership or not,” but “if he did, it would be good for me.” Trump had already said last week that he does not plan to meet with the 65-year-old Pahlavi, who has lived outside Iran since before the Shah was overthrown. He now questioned whether he could govern. The opposition in Iran is fragmented, with various rival factions, including some supporters of the monarchy. It does not appear to have a particularly organized presence in the Islamic Republic. For Donald Trump, the fall of the government in Tehran remains possible due to the massive demonstrations, as “any regime can fail,” as he sees it. “Whether it falls or not, it’s going to be an interesting period,” he commented.