Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah and a prominent opposition figure, issued a stern warning on Saturday against negotiating peace with Iran’s current leadership. He argued that such talks would merely postpone the security threat Iran poses to the United States, urging Iranians to once again take to the streets in protest.
Pahlavi delivered his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, a major annual event for Republican activists and lawmakers. His appearance was met with a standing ovation, and his commitment to freeing the Iranian people resonated strongly with conservatives and Iranian Americans present, drawing enthusiastic applause.
Referencing President Donald Trump’s recent statements about pursuing military action against Iran to avoid recurring security threats, Pahlavi cautioned that negotiating with the existing regime would only perpetuate the cycle. He asserted that the regime’s remnants are untrustworthy, prone to deception and delay tactics, and incapable of genuine peace.
“The only thing that the remnants of this regime can be relied on to do is to buy time, to cheat and to steal. They will never be honest or true partners for peace,” Pahlavi declared. He predicted that any negotiations would be a façade, after which Iran would resume its hostile activities against American interests.
At 65, Pahlavi has positioned himself as the leading candidate to head a transitional government in Iran and has expressed his readiness to return home after 47 years in exile. However, Iran’s opposition remains divided among various factions, and Trump has voiced doubts about Pahlavi’s leadership potential, suggesting that a figure from within Iran might be preferable.
Amid rising global energy prices and declining approval ratings, Trump faces difficult decisions following a month of conflict with Iran: either pursue a fragile diplomatic resolution or escalate military actions, risking a prolonged war.
Pahlavi sought to align his vision with American security and economic interests. He received strong applause when he invited the audience to imagine a future Iran where slogans shift from “Death to America” to “God bless America.” He promised that a liberated Iran would present significant economic opportunities for the United States.
Throughout his speech, Iranian Americans in attendance repeatedly chanted “long live the king.” Pahlavi, who had called for widespread protests in Iran earlier this year, stated that he would urge Iranians to rise up again “when the right moment arrives” to reclaim their country, dignity, and future.
