Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splashed with a red liquid, believed to be tomato juice, as he left a building in Berlin on Thursday, an attack captured on camera.A video showed Reza Pahlavi walking along a sidewalk surrounded by a security team and others as someone poured liquid on him from behind.The 65-year-old man, who lives in the United States, appeared uninjured, although the back of his suit jacket and neck were covered in fluid. He waved to supporters before getting into a car that drove away. Police later said the substance appeared to be tomato juice.The incident occurred outside the federal press conference building in the German capital, as he had just finished a press conference criticizing the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The first round of talks on April 11-12 ended in failure after US President Donald Trump extended the truce amid uncertainty over the second round of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.The suspect’s identity was not disclosed under German privacy laws, but he was detained at the scene.Pahlavi was the son of Iran’s last king, whose rule ended in 1979 when mass protests forced him to step down, paving the way for the establishment of the Islamic Republic.Now in exile for nearly five decades, he has sought to position himself as an important figure in Iran’s future, although the extent of his support within the country remains unclear.The Islamic Republic has been at war with the United States and Israel since the allies launched a joint strike against a common adversary on February 28. The conflict has spread throughout the Middle East.
Bahavi talks about US-Iran ceasefire
Pahlavi, who did not meet any German government representatives during his visit to Berlin, argued that the ceasefire assumes that Tehran’s behavior will “change” and that its leadership will suddenly act pragmatist.“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I’m not saying that diplomacy shouldn’t be given a chance, but I think it’s been given enough of a chance,” he said.If Iran’s Shia theocracy collapses, he could return to power and support U.S. and Israeli military intervention in the Middle East.In Berlin, Pahlavi urged European countries to “do more” to support the Iranians’ push for democracy. He claimed that the Iranian authorities executed 19 political prisoners in the past two weeks and 20 others were sentenced to death.“Will the free world take action or watch in silence as this carnage occurs?” he asked.More than an hour after the incident, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement that his government “welcomes the extension of the ceasefire.”“This provides an important opportunity to resume diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad with the aim of ensuring peace and preventing further escalation of the situation,” the statement said.(With AP input)
