Once known as the “Tragic Crown Prince,” Reza Pahlavi took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with a defiant new roar that shook the rafters: “Make Iran Great Again (MIGA)!”
As the last Crown Prince of Iran and the leading voice of the exiled opposition since 2013, Pahlavi emerged as the undisputed star of CPAC, held from March 25–28 in Grapevine, Texas. With the conflict in Iran escalating, the world was watching to see if the Prince was ready to lead. He didn’t just answer the call—he laid out a vision for a “Post-Islamic Republic” era.
Speaking during the finale on March 28, Pahlavi told a cheering crowd that the era of the clerical regime is nearing its end.
“Freedom for Iran is no longer a fantasy; it is within our reach,” Pahlavi declared. “A free Iran will no longer be a source of nuclear threats, terrorism, or hostage-taking. Instead of a nation that blackmails the world, we will be a partner that provides stability and economic opportunity to America and the Free World.”
Pahlavi framed the liberation of Iran as a global economic catalyst. He pointed to Iran’s 93 million highly educated, entrepreneurial citizens as the “21st century’s greatest untapped market.”
The $1 Trillion Promise: Pahlavi estimated that a strategic partnership between a free Iran and the U.S. could generate over $1 trillion in value for the American economy within the next decade.
To prove he isn’t just a dreamer, Pahlavi unveiled the Iran Prosperity Plan (IPP)—a detailed 100-day reconstruction roadmap for the immediate aftermath of the regime’s fall. Pahlavi highlighted that he gained support from segments of the current Iranian military and bureaucracy. He also emphasized the unity by saying that he will take the hands of leaders across the political spectrum, from left to right, monarchists to republicans. Pahlavi mentioned that Iran would avoid the power vacuums seen in post-war Iraq, moving directly into a democratic transition.
“Millions of Iranians have asked me to lead this transition,” Pahlavi said. “I accept this call not for myself, but for my country. I ask America to clear the path so the Iranian people can finish the job themselves.”
Pahlavi’s most poignant moment came when he contrasted the current regime’s rhetoric with the future he envisions.
“When Iran recovers its values, America will gain its greatest ally once again,” he said. “The country that once shouted ‘Death to America’ will be the one saying ‘God Bless America.’ Unlike a regime that worships death and destruction, the Iranian people today yearn for life and liberty.”
While mainstream media outlets have suggested a rift within the “MAGA” base regarding the war in Iran, the CPAC Straw Poll told a very different story.
Of the 1,630 attendees surveyed, a staggering 89% approved of President Trump’s military actions against the Ali Khamenei regime to stop nuclear development and topple the theocracy. This result serves as a massive green light for the administration’s “Maximum Pressure” (and kinetic) campaign, proving that the GOP core remains firmly behind the mission to liberate Iran.
