Iranian Opposition Figure Pahlavi Warns Against Negotiating With Current Leaders

Pahlavi calls for renewed protests in Iran, says current regime cannot be trusted

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A moody, cinematic painting depicting a lone figure standing on a dimly lit urban street, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conceptually representing the complex geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran.As tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, an exiled opposition figure warns that negotiating with the current regime would only delay the threat to American security.Grapevine Today

In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi warned that negotiating with Iran's current leadership would only delay the threat to American security. Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's former shah, called for Iranians to rise up and protest against the regime, saying the current leaders cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith.

Why it matters

Pahlavi's warnings come as the U.S. government faces difficult choices on how to handle the ongoing tensions with Iran. With global energy prices rising and President Trump's approval ratings slipping, the administration must decide whether to strike a potentially fragile deal with Iran or escalate militarily, risking a prolonged conflict.

The details

In his speech, Pahlavi cited President Trump's comments that he did not want to confront security threats from Iran 'every two years,' warning that negotiating with Iran's current leadership would only delay the threat. Pahlavi said the regime would 'buy time, pretend to negotiate, and then return to its old jihadist ways of threatening America, its security and its interests.' He called for Iranians to rise up and protest again, saying he would 'call on them to rise up' when the 'right moment arrives.' Pahlavi also sought to link his cause to American security and business interests, drawing applause when he asked the audience to imagine Iran moving from chants of 'Death to America' to 'God bless America.'

  • Pahlavi addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas on March 28, 2026.
  • In January 2026, Pahlavi called for sustained nationwide protests in Iran.

The players

Reza Pahlavi

The exiled son of Iran's former shah, Pahlavi has promoted himself as the most viable option to lead a transitional government in Iran and has expressed readiness to return to the country at the earliest opportunity.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president, who has expressed skepticism about Pahlavi as a potential leader for Iran, is now confronting stark choices on how to handle the ongoing tensions with Iran.

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What they’re saying

“The only thing that the remnants of this regime can be relied on to do is to buy time, to cheat and to steal. They will never be honest or true partners for peace.”

— Reza Pahlavi, Iranian opposition figure

“It will buy time, it will pretend to negotiate, and then it will return to its old jihadist ways of threatening America, its security and its interests.”

— Reza Pahlavi, Iranian opposition figure

What’s next

With global energy prices rising and his approval ratings slipping, President Trump is confronting stark choices after a month of war with Iran: strike a potentially fragile deal and exit, or escalate militarily and risk a prolonged conflict.

The takeaway

Pahlavi's warnings highlight the deep divisions within the Iranian opposition and the challenges the U.S. government faces in navigating the complex geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. As the U.S. weighs its options, the future of Iran and its relationship with the West remains highly uncertain.