GRAPEVINE, TEXAS — In a moment of high political theater on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, directly mirrored the rhetoric of the American President during a keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Framing himself as the architect of a post-clerical future, Pahlavi sought to solidify a partnership with the Trump administration as the one-month anniversary of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war passes.
The speech marks Pahlavi’s most aggressive move toward establishing a “Transitional Government” since the conflict began on February 28.
The “Shared Vision” Doctrine
Standing before a backdrop of American and “Lion and Sun” Iranian flags, Pahlavi used his platform to appeal directly to the “America First” base and the President himself.
- Mirroring the Slogan: “President Trump is making America great again,” Pahlavi declared to roaring applause. “I intend to make Iran great again.”
- The “Javid Shah” Factor: The crown prince was greeted by hundreds of supporters chanting “Long Live the King,” signaling a resurgence of monarchist sentiment within the Iranian diaspora as the current regime in Tehran faces an “Infrastructure Blitz.”
- The “God Bless America” Pivot: Pahlavi promised a radical shift in Iranian foreign policy, asking the audience to “imagine an Iran that goes from ‘Death to America’ to ‘God Bless America.'”
A Warning Against the “Islamabad Channel”
Pahlavi’s “Make Iran Great Again” (MIGA) messaging serves a strategic purpose: urging President Trump to abandon the 15-point peace proposal currently being debated in Pakistan.
- “Don’t Make a Deal”: Pahlavi warned that any agreement with the remnants of the current regime—led by Mojtaba Khamenei—would only allow “jihadists” to buy time.
- The Snake Analogy: He told the CPAC audience that the regime is a “snake” whose “venom is in its DNA,” arguing that reform is impossible and total removal is the only path to regional stability.
- The “Workable” Rivalry: His speech is seen as a counter-move to reports that the Trump administration might favor an “internal” pragmatic leader like Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf over an exiled figure who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 50 years.
Operational Reality: The Conflict at 30 Days
As Pahlavi spoke in Texas, the war in the Middle East continued to escalate along the lines he described as “irreconcilable.”
| Category | Status (March 28-29, 2026) |
| Coalition Action | Infrastructure Blitz: Strikes on Tehran’s Satellite Research Center and Haftkel water reservoir. |
| Iranian Retaliation | The “15-Drone” Wave: Targets Kuwait International Airport and the EGA smelter in Dubai. |
| New Front | The Houthi Entry: Ballistic missiles fired at Beer Sheba; Houthis vow to fight until strikes on Iran stop. |
What’s Next?
Pahlavi’s vision of a “pro-Western, secular Iran” faces its greatest test on April 6, the U.S. deadline for the 15-point proposal. If the “Islamabad Channel” fails and the U.S. transitions to “Phase 3″—the total dismantling of Iran’s power grid—Pahlavi’s call for a “Transitional Government” may shift from a CPAC speech to a formal diplomatic reality.
