Reza Pahlavi pledges to ‘make Iran great again’ at 2026 CPAC conference

Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran and a prominent opposition figure, addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas. Speaking on the one-month anniversary of the US and Israel's war against Iran, he urged President Trump to maintain a hardline stance against the current Iranian regime and pursue regime change. Pahlavi stated his intention to "make Iran great again," echoing Trump's slogan, and received a standing ovation. He has become a central figure for the Iranian diaspora, many of whom support his vision of a pre-revolutionary Iran. Pahlavi's remarks align him with hawkish figures within the Trump administration, despite reservations from some in the diaspora about the ongoing conflict's impact on Iran.

Donald Trump will not attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year, marking the first time in a decade he has missed the annual gathering. A White House official cited a busy schedule and the "ongoing Iran conflict" as reasons for his absence. CPAC, a major event for conservatives, is being held near Dallas, Texas, from Wednesday to Saturday. While Trump was originally expected to be the keynote speaker on the final day, he is scheduled to speak at a Saudi-backed investment summit in Miami on Friday. The conference will feature other top Republicans seeking to rally their base ahead of the midterm elections, as well as speakers like Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi.