At CPAC, the Shah’s Son Promises to “Make Iran Great Again”
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
Reza Pahlavi, the Shah's son, told CPAC the Trump military campaign offers an opportunity for Iranian regime change.
How This Affects You
If regime change efforts escalate conflict, oil prices could spike further—the summary notes gas prices have already risen due to Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade.
AI Summary
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah, addressed CPAC on Saturday and framed the Trump administration's military campaign against Iran as an opportunity for regime change, telling the crowd he could lead the country's transition to democracy. Speaking to hundreds of exiled Iranians, Pahlavi echoed Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, saying "I intend to make Iran great again" and calling on America to "stay the course" while Iranians "finish the job." His appeal comes as opposition to the war grows within Trump's own party—Reps. Matt Gaetz and Thomas Massie have openly criticized military action, and gas prices have spiked due to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aides have privately dismissed Pahlavi as the "loser prince" due to lack of domestic support inside Iran, where he hasn't traveled in 50 years. Pahlavi's political future now hinges almost entirely on Trump's sustained commitment to the war effort, a bet that faces mounting domestic political headwinds.
What's Being Done
Reza Pahlavi is advocating for continued U.S. military action and calling for Trump administration support for a post-regime transition government.
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Government TransparencyThe Shah of Iran and SAVAK (1976) | 60 Minutes Archive
In 1976, Mike Wallace interviewed Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and asked him if his secret police force, SAVAK, had ever used torture.
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