Reza Pahlavi is splashed with red liquid as he walks towards his car.
Prince Reza Pahlavi faces opposition in Germany instead of the support he is seeking.
Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran, who was ousted in 1979, had just given a Press Statement in Berlin, Germany, today, Thursday, when a rather scary incident occurred. A demonstrator dashed towards him and threw some thick reddish liquid at him.
The liquid, which looked like tomato juice, fell onto the back of his neck, his shirt collar, and a small part of his suit.
Why were there Demonstrations against Prince Pahlavi?
Prince Pahlavi is on a visit to Germany to advance his campaign against the Ayatollah regime in Iran. He is trying to lobby governments to support the ouster of the current Iranian regime.
The German government, which, like many other European governments, has not involved itself in the US/Israeli – Iran war, declined to meet with Pahlavi.
The Prince, who, for many years, has been exiled in the US, was disappointed that the German government had turned him down. He underscored his sentiments by saying it was disgraceful that Germany had ignored him.
Apparently, it has been Pahlavi’s hope that the US President would succeed in overthrowing the current Iranian government. What has not been clear is whether he has had ambitions to take the reins in such a regime change.
The Shah Regime was a Darling of the US
When Iran was under the Shah, it was a darling of the US and the West. Western companies, such as British Petroleum (then called the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company), the International Oil Consortium, and others, reaped heavily from their investments in Iran.
Probably, President Trump wanted to make history by reinstating the Shah regime. He also probably hoped he would subsequently create a way for Western companies to re-enter the Iranian economy.
However, the disgust expressed by the Berlin demonstrator shows that not everyone wants the Shah regime back.