Reza Pahlavi Speaks at 2026 Concordia Annual Summit in New York
Reza Pahlavi appeared at the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City on September 22, joining Concordia Co-Founder, President and CEO Matthew Swift for a conversation during one of the major international gatherings held alongside the United Nations General Assembly.
The appearance brought renewed international attention to Reza Pahlavi, the former Crown Prince of Iran and a prominent figure among Iranian opposition voices outside the country. Pahlavi participated in a dedicated Concordia session focused on democracy, security and geopolitical risk, where he discussed his views on Iran’s political future, the possibility of a transition toward a secular democratic system and the role he believes the international community can play in relation to developments inside Iran.
Photographs from the event show Reza Pahlavi speaking with Matthew Swift on stage at the Sheraton New York Times Square during the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit. The event took place in New York from September 20 through September 23, 2026, bringing together figures from government, business, civil society, international organizations and other sectors during the week of the United Nations General Assembly.
The appearance has attracted attention because the Concordia Annual Summit provides a high-profile international platform for discussions about global affairs, diplomacy, security, economic issues and political change. Reza Pahlavi’s participation placed Iran and the future of the country within a broader international conversation taking place in New York during UNGA Week.
Reza Pahlavi at the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit
Reza Pahlavi appeared on the East Stage of the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit for a session titled “A Conversation with Prince Reza Pahlavi.” According to the official Concordia session description, the conversation was scheduled for September 22 and was moderated by Matthew Swift. The session was part of the Summit’s “Democracy, Security & Geopolitical Risk” programming.
The session’s subject matter reflected the broader geopolitical focus of the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit. The organization says its annual gathering is designed to bring together leaders from business, government and nonprofit organizations to discuss major international challenges and develop cross-sector partnerships. The 2026 edition was held at the Sheraton New York Times Square and was organized during the week of the United Nations General Assembly.
Concordia describes its Annual Summit as a nonpartisan gathering alongside the United Nations General Assembly. Its programming covers subjects including innovative technology, energy and environmental transition, human rights and social progress, health, democracy and geopolitical risk, and the global economy and trade.
Within that program, the appearance by Pahlavi was particularly focused on Iran’s political future and the relationship between domestic developments in Iran and the wider international security environment.
September 23, 2026 | 2:56 pm
