In June 2026, an image circulated online supposedly showing conservative activist Laura Loomer attending a private birthday party for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah.
"Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is celebrating his birthday right now. Laura Loomer was among the guests at the private party," an X user wrote in a post (archived) sharing the supposed photo.
(X user @Parodyjeffx)
The image appeared to show Loomer seated to the left of Israeli singer Kobi Peretz, who was kissing Pahlavi on the cheek, in front of Israeli and pre-revolutionary Iranian flags. It spread beyond X, including on Reddit, where some users questioned whether it had been manipulated.
The image is not authentic. It was digitally altered to edit Loomer into a photograph where she was not originally present. Furthermore, the original photo was taken at a dinner in Israel in April 2023 — not at a birthday party in June 2026. Pahlavi was born on Oct. 31, 1960.
The X account @Parodyjeffx posted the earliest version (archived) of the altered image that we identified. The account's bio labels the profile as commentary and satire, and states that its content is "fictional commentary." However, the image circulated elsewhere without a satire disclaimer.
Original photograph dates to 2023
A reverse image search led to an April 19, 2023, X post (archived) captioned: "Tonight in Israel the Israeli singer Kobi Peretz with Prince Reza Pahlavi."
That post featured the same photograph — including the food, flags, table setting and Pahlavi's clothing — but did not show Loomer. In the original, businessman Shefi Sasson was seated on the left, and Israeli singer Kobi Peretz was on the right kissing Pahlavi. In the altered version, Loomer was inserted over Sasson.
(X user @Franckalbert201)
Below is a comparison of the altered image (left) and the original photograph from April 2023 (right).
(X users @Franckalbert201 and @Parodyjeffx)
Other contemporary material confirmed the scene's context and the identities of the people shown. Israeli entertainment journalist Itzik Ohana posted footage from the gathering on April 18, 2023, showing Kobi Peretz performing for Pahlavi. Shefi Sasson, who hosted the dinner, also posted photographs and footage from the event on Instagram.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 reported on April 19, 2023, that Pahlavi and his wife attended a small, private dinner at Sasson's home during Pahlavi's visit to Israel. The report said Peretz performed for the couple and credited photographs from the event to "publicity material." The authentic photograph showed Sasson seated in the position where Loomer appeared in the altered version.
The Israeli government announced Pahlavi's visit in April 2023 and said Israeli politician Gila Gamliel would host him. Government updates documented his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, attendance at a Holocaust Remembrance Day event and other activities during the trip.
Therefore, the dinner shown in the photograph was connected to Pahlavi's April 2023 visit to Israel, not to a birthday celebration in June 2026.
Finally, Pahlavi's official website states that he was born in Tehran on Oct. 31, 1960, meaning the claim that he celebrated his birthday in June was false.