Overview
- After a Berlin press briefing Thursday, the exiled crown prince who criticized the US–Iran ceasefire was splashed with red liquid outside as police detained a suspect and later said the substance appeared to be tomato juice.
- He urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders to halt negotiations with Tehran and take steps such as expelling Iranian ambassadors and helping Iranians get online during state blocks, citing executions he claims include 19 in two weeks.
- Germany’s federal government declined to meet him during the visit, though lawmakers including Armin Laschet planned talks, signaling official caution alongside interest in parliament.
- Supporters and opponents gathered near the venue, and video of the splashing spread online, underscoring a polarized diaspora response to a figure who presents himself as a potential transitional leader.
- The push lands as EU leaders convene in Cyprus to weigh how to handle the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran under a fragile ceasefire, with European capitals split between more pressure on Tehran and continued engagement.