President Donald Trump believes meeting with Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi isn’t in the cards.
Pahlavi is considered a symbol of the Iranian resistance amid growing nationwide protests in the country, with violence resulting in 42 deaths and over 2,000 arrests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
“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,” Trump told talk show host Hugh Hewitt. “I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges. I’m not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do.”
The Iranian crown prince, son of the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has encouraged Iranians to resist the Islamic regime. He called on citizens to take “to the streets” and “shout” their demands to the government there.
His calls come as the Iranian government has cut off phone and internet access across the nation. Pahlavi acknowledged the lack of communication and called on Trump and European leaders to “act more decisively” in support of Iran.
“I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account,” Pahlavi said.
“It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran,” Pahlavi added. “I call on them to use all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication to the Iranian people so that their voice and their will can be heard and seen. Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced.”
Trump has warned Iran against hurting protesters.
Iran has “been told very strongly, even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now, that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” he said.
IRANIAN OFFICIAL THREATENS PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AFTER TRUMP VOWS TO DEFEND PROTESTERS
Iranians have resisted the Islamic regime for decades, but the latest protests have captured the world’s attention.
Most of the unrest comes from the country’s lackluster financial situation, with high inflation hurting its citizens. The country attempted to offer its citizens a $7 monthly payment to quell the unrest, but the effort appears to have been unsuccessful.
