White House envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly met with exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi over the weekend as protests continue across Iran, a report by Axios has claimed, citing a senior US official. 

 

 

Axios said the meeting took place privately and marked the first reported high-level contact between the Trump administration and Iranian opposition figures since protests began around 15 days ago. 

 

 

Reza Pahlavi is the son of Iran’s last Shah, who was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution that led to the establishment of the Islamic republic.

 

 

The US official quoted by Axios said Pahlavi’s name has been heard during protests in several cities, a development that surprised officials US. “There has been an ascendance of Pahlavi. They are chanting his name in protests in many cities and it seems to be happening organically,” the official told Axios. 

 

 

The outlet reported that Pahlavi has been presenting himself as a possible transitional figure in the event of a collapse of the current system.

 

 

Pahlavi has publicly called on US President Donald Trump to take action. In a Jan 9 post on X, he addressed the US president directly, writing: “Mr President, this is an urgent and immediate call for your attention, support, and action.” 

 

 

He accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of using communications blackouts to carry out a crackdown and urged Trump to “be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran.” In his remarks, Pahlavi described Trump as a “man of peace.”

 

 

Trump has issued multiple statements backing protesters but has not formally endorsed Pahlavi. In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said Iran had “been told very strongly” that it would face consequences if violence was used against protestors. 

 

 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.” He added: “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!”

 

 

Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said on social media site X that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were the "main killers" of the Iranian people in response to the US president's post.

 

 

Russia also weighed in, condemning what it called “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal affairs and warning that any repeat of last year’s US strikes would have consequences for regional and international security.