Could Reza Pahlavi Lead Iran? Trump Says ‘He’s A Very Nice Person But...'

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 23:02 IST

Trump emphasised that a leader who is already in Iran and enjoys domestic support would be a better candidate.

US President Donald Trump downplayed the possibility of exiled Iranian activist Reza Pahlavi assuming leadership of Iran, saying he preferred that a figure from within the country take charge.

“Some people like him, and we haven’t been thinking too much about that," Trump said, adding, “It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate."

While acknowledging Pahlavi as a “very nice person," Trump emphasised that a leader who is already in Iran and enjoys domestic support would be a better candidate.

“Somebody that’s there, that’s popular, if there’s such a person," he added.

Trump expressed concern over the potential rise of another hardline leader in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

“The worst-case scenario for Iran would be if somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person," he said. “That could happen. We don’t want that to happen. We’d like to see somebody in there, bring it back to the people, and we’ll see what happens."

Trump indicated that the White House had considered multiple candidates for leadership, but noted that some are now deceased.

“Pretty soon, we’re not going to know anybody," he said. He reiterated that a moderate leader from within Iran would be the most suitable choice, saying, “If there’s such a person, but we have people like that. We have people … more moderate."

Who Is Reza Pahlavi?

Reza Pahlavi is the eldest son of the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran who was overthrown during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Born in 1960, Pahlavi has lived in exile since the revolution and has become a prominent voice of the Iranian opposition, advocating for secular governance, human rights and democratic reforms in the country. Over the years, he has positioned himself as a symbol of change for Iranians seeking an alternative to the clerical leadership in Tehran.

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