Iranian Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi Asking for Prayer that Iranians would Gain Freedom from Regime
Protesters in Iran rallied around Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran, as they tried to overthrow the current wicked government. The fall of the currency, 50 percent inflation, and government corruption caused people to take to the streets and try to force change.
The unrest captured the attention of the Trump administration, and Pahlavi was given the opportunity to meet with Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, according to CBN.
Pahlavi Addresses Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast Attendees
Pahlavi also received the opportunity to address the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast that was held at Mar-a-Lago last week. There, he called on the leaders in attendance to pray for Iran, and that the protestors would be able to overthrow the present wicked regime, according to CBN.
“We need your prayers more than ever to make sure this does happen. And we will do our part, and I appreciate your solidarity and support. Thank you, my friends, and hopefully, we’ll have the next Prayer Breakfast in Tehran, once liberated, and we will welcome you with open arms,” Pahlavi said.
President Trump had initially encouraged Iranians, via a Truth Social post, that they should continue to protest and even take over their institutions because, “Help is on the way!”
“They need the help of the United States to get over the finish line to take this revolution to a place where it will be meaningful, where it will actually topple the regime. Again, they don’t have any weapons. They don’t have any formal organization on the ground,” Iranian-American journalist Lisa Daftari told CBN.
A Rasmussen Reports poll found that 47 percent of likely U.S. Voters believe that Iranian citizens would succeed in overthrowing the Ayatollah.
Trump’s Truth Social post brought hope and renewed vigor to the protests. Iranians were further encouraged by the news that the Pentagon had been in communications with its largest Middle East air base, according to Time.
In response to the protestors, the regime shut down the internet so that the 90 million people in Iran couldn’t use it to organize additional protests. The regime also cut off cell phone services, SMS, and landlines. In addition, it ramped up its violence against protestors, according to Time.
Trump Changes Course
Then, news reports came out about Trump changing course. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump and basically asked him to wait in regard to a military attack on Iran.
On that same day, Trump told The Jerusalem Post that, “very important sources on the other side,” had told him that Iran was no longer killing dissidents.
“We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions,” Trump said from the Oval Office during a press conference. “There’s no plan for executions or an execution. I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it. I’m sure if it happens, I’ll be very upset.”
Trump was also apparently advised that attacking Iran wouldn’t necessarily lead to its fall, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“After he said the Iranian authorities had told him there won’t be any more killings and executions, everyone was just stunned,” an Iranian told Time after traveling out of the country. “Everyone was enraged; they just kept saying this b***rd used us as cannon fodder. Iranians feel that they were played, that he fooled them, deceived them.”
Russia’s Reaction to Unrest in Iran
At the same time, Russia, who is an ally to Iran, was also simply watching closely to see what happens with Iran, according to CNBC.
Russia has been fairly quiet, though a statement was released by its foreign ministry last week in which it indicated that the protests had the potential to usher in, “disastrous consequences…for the situation in the Middle East and global international security.”
Communications in Iran are being slowly restored, which may make it easier to get information regarding the actual state of the protests. SMS communications have been restored. The disruption of internet services has had a major impact on getting information about what’s truly happening, as well as the organization of protestors. At this time, there’s no real timeline for when the internet will be restored, according to Al Jazeera.
On Saturday, the U.S. State Department “heard reports that the Islamic Republic is preparing options for targeting” U. S. bases, according to WND.
The State Department responded that, “As President Trump has repeatedly emphasized, all options remain on the table, and if the Islamic Republic regime attacks American assets, the Islamic Republic 'will face a force that is very, very powerful. We have said this before, and we say it again: Do not play games with President Trump.”
Related Article
Iran Past, Present, and Future
Photo Credit: ©Gety Images / JOEL SAGET / Contributor
Originally published January 19, 2026.
