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Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is set to visit Mar-a-Lago in Florida next week for an event organised by the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, even as US President Donald Trump has said it would not be appropriate for him to meet him at this stage.
The development comes as Iran faces massive protests, which entered its 12th day, against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's regime over economic distress.
Albert Veksler, global director of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, said the organisation is planning an event at Mar-a-Lago around January 12 as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, The Jerusalem Post reported. The gathering is expected to include a Latvian parliamentary delegation, Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro and Pahlavi.
“The Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast is heading into its 10th anniversary. We’ve held nine annual breakfasts in Israel and 27 outside the country,” Veksler said, adding that Pahlavi’s participation carries symbolic significance amid continuing unrest in Iran.
“His presence creates hope that there will be regime change. I’m really praying that this would happen — not just for us, but for the Iranian people,” he said.
He described the Islamic Republic as a “horrible dictatorial regime” responsible for decades of suffering.
Trump, however, struck a cautious note on the prospect of engaging with the exiled prince. In an interview with conservative podcaster Hugh Hewitt, Trump was asked whether he would meet Pahlavi, who has described himself as a proponent of a constitutional monarchy rather than a ruling monarch, Iran reported.
“I’ve watched him, and he seems like a nice person. But I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as President. I think we should let everybody go out there and see who emerges,” Trump said.
Pahlavi has lived in exile in the US since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew his father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran. In recent years, he has emerged as a prominent voice supporting democratic change in Iran, particularly amid widespread protests against the clerical establishment.
INTERNET BLACKOUT IN IRAN
Internet connectivity and telephone lines went dark across Iran late Thursday as thousands of people in Tehran and other cities took to the streets following a call for mass protests by Pahlavi.
Internet access and phone services were cut shortly after the protests began. NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) were issued in several regions, and flights were suspended at Tabriz Airport.
In a tweet, Pahlavi slammed the Khamenei regime for snapping Internet services across Iran and thanked US President Donald Trump for reiterating his promise to hold Tehran to account.
"Millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication. It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals," he said.
Pahlavi had called for demonstrations at 8 pm (local time) on Thursday and Friday. When the clock struck, neighbourhoods across Tehran erupted in chanting, witnesses said. The chants included “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Others praised the shah, shouting, “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!” Thousands could be seen on the streets.
So far, violence during the demonstrations has killed over 40 people, while more than 2,260 others have been detained, according to human right organisations.
On Thursday, Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran’s leadership, saying the US would take severe action if authorities escalate their response to protests and begin killing demonstrators.
- Ends
Published By:
Prateek Chakraborty
Published On:
Jan 9, 2026
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