Persians at CPAC push for Reza Pahlavi as Tehran’s next leader amid Iran war

Published March 26, 2026 3:10pm ET

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Persians gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference had an urgent message for President Donald Trump: they want Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late shah, to be Tehran’s next leader.

“He’s the only leader that the people in Iran are chanting his name,” said Maryam Salehi, 60, who attended the conference on Thursday. “They are only believing in him. And his father did great. Now he is even going to be better.”