Iran’s exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, was splattered with a red liquid, reported to be tomato sauce, on Thursday afternoon, April 23, as he departed a news briefing in Berlin. The incident occurred outside Germany’s federal press conference building shortly after Pahlavi had finished addressing reporters. While the liquid coated the back of his blazer and neck, the 65-year-old appeared unhurt and waved to a crowd of supporters before departing the scene by car.

Local authorities quickly identified the substance as tomato juice and confirmed that the alleged perpetrator was immediately detained. The confrontation took place against a backdrop of significant political tension, as hundreds of Pahlavi’s supporters gathered near the German parliament building to demonstrate against the current Iranian government. Donald Trump Calls Reza Pahlavi ‘An Option’ for Iran’s Future As Leadership Collapses.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Targeted in Berlin Juice Attack

During his briefing, Pahlavi took a hardline stance against the ongoing ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He argued that diplomatic efforts have reached their limit and expressed skepticism that the Iranian leadership would shift toward pragmatism. "I’m not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance," Pahlavi stated, "but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance."

The Crown Prince, who has lived in exile for nearly 50 years since his father, the former Shah, was deposed in 1979, continues to position himself as a key figure in Iran's potential political future. He has recently voiced support for US-Israeli military intervention in the region as a means to dismantle the current theocratic structure. Who Is Reza Pahlavi? Exiled Crown Prince Emerges as Focal Point in Escalating Iran Protests.

Calls for European Intervention

Pahlavi used his platform in Berlin to urge European leaders to take more decisive action in support of the Iranian people. He highlighted a dire human rights situation, claiming that 19 political prisoners were executed by Iranian authorities in the last two weeks alone, with dozens more facing death sentences.

"Will the free world do something, or watch the slaughter in silence?" Pahlavi asked during his address. Despite his vocal appeals, Pahlavi was not invited to meet with any official German government representatives during his visit to the capital.

German Government Response

While Pahlavi remains critical of diplomatic de-escalation, the German government has signaled its support for continued talks. Shortly after the incident involving Pahlavi, Chancellor Friedrich Merz released a statement welcoming the extension of the ceasefire.

The Chancellor’s office described the agreement as an "important opportunity" to resume negotiations in Islamabad, aimed at averting a broader regional war. The statement urged Tehran to seize the opportunity for peace, highlighting the stark divide between the official European diplomatic path and the regime-change strategy advocated by the exiled prince.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 23, 2026 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).