A Royal Call to Arms: Reza Pahlavi’s Gambit at CPAC 2026
As the delegates at the 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gathered to celebrate the triumphs of American conservatism, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows to ignite a fervent debate about the future of Iran and the Middle East. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, took to the stage, his eyes blazing with a sense of purpose and conviction that has defined his life’s work. In a speech that was both a nostalgic tribute to the glories of Iran’s imperial past and a bold call to action for the country’s uncertain future, Reza Pahlavi pledged to ‘make Iran great again’, a phrase that echoed the signature slogan of his former ally, Donald Trump.
The stakes of this declaration are far from trivial. As the United States and Israel wage a covert war on Iran’s nuclear program, with airstrikes and sabotage becoming increasingly frequent, Pahlavi’s words took on a sense of urgency and gravitas. His message was not merely a nostalgic appeal to a bygone era, but a clarion call to action for those who would seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic and install a new, more Western-friendly government in Tehran. The implications of this stance are profound, not least for the millions of Iranians who have grown accustomed to the relative stability and economic prosperity of the Rouhani era, however flawed it may have been.
Pahlavi’s speech was a masterclass in rhetorical skill, weaving together a narrative that was both a tribute to the Shah’s legacy and a critique of the Islamic Republic’s authoritarian excesses. He spoke of the ‘great’ Iran of his father’s time, when the country was a regional power, a bastion of Western values, and a proud member of the international community. He spoke of the ’tragic’ fate that befell his family and his country, as the Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolution swept away the monarchy and installed a theocratic regime that would go on to brutalize and oppress its own people for decades to come.
But Pahlavi’s speech was not merely a lament for the past; it was also a call to the present and the future. He spoke of the need for a new, democratic Iran, one that would be a ‘beacon of hope’ for the region, a country that would ‘stand tall’ alongside its Arab and Turkish neighbors, and a nation that would ’never be intimidated’ by the threats of its adversaries. He spoke of the importance of ‘stay[ing] the course’, a phrase that echoed the rhetoric of the Trump administration, which has been a steadfast supporter of the Iranian opposition in its bid to overthrow the Islamic Republic.
As Pahlavi’s words echoed through the halls of CPAC, a range of reactions emerged from those who would be most affected by his message. In Tehran, the Rouhani government was quick to condemn Pahlavi’s speech, calling it an ‘outrageous’ and ’treacherous’ attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty. Iranian hardliners, meanwhile, saw Pahlavi’s words as a clarion call to arms, a signal that it was time to take up the fight against the Islamic Republic once and for all.
In Washington, the Trump administration was quick to welcome Pahlavi’s speech, with officials stating that the US would ‘continue to support’ the Iranian opposition in its bid to bring about regime change. Israeli officials, meanwhile, were more circumspect, acknowledging the ‘complexities’ of the situation, but also expressing their ‘deep concern’ about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.
As the dust settles on Pahlavi’s speech, it is clear that the stakes of this debate are far from trivial. The fate of Iran, its people, and its future hangs precariously in the balance, as the great game of geopolitics plays out on the stage of the Middle East. What happens next is impossible to predict, but one thing is certain: Reza Pahlavi’s call to arms has set in motion a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences for the region, and for the world at large. As the great powers of the West and East jockey for position, and as the people of Iran prepare for a future that is increasingly uncertain, one thing is clear: the outcome of this struggle will shape the course of history for generations to come.