Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi: Transition Plan and the Fight for Iran's Freedom
3/7/202648 mincomplete
0:00All right, everybody, welcome back to part two of the All In podcast, episode 263.
0:06We promised you a part two because we are very lucky that my dear friend,
0:10Shervin Peshavar, was able to set up a very important historic interview for us today.
0:17None other than Prince Reza Pallavi is here, and we have a limited amount of
0:23time with you, Reza. And may I call you Reza, or should I call you
0:28Prince Reza? Bye. Thank you.
0:30Thank you for having me on your program.
0:32It's great to have you.
0:34And this is a moment I think you've been waiting 47, close to 50 years
0:40for, which is we are at this moment in time looking at potentially the people
0:46of Iran being free. You left the country when you were 17 years old to
0:51become a pilot, and now you are looking to help your people with a transition
0:58post this military activity, this operation, essentially a war that's going on right now that
1:05we all hope gets resolved quickly.
1:08I think people would love to know what is your vision for Iran post this
1:18military action. Well, thank you again for the opportunity.
1:23Before I get into that, I wanted to simply stress the importance of this intervention
1:29that to us was like a rescue mission.
1:31It was literally a humanitarian intervention to protect more lives that would otherwise be lost
1:38under this extremely brutal and repressive regime that, as you know, has massacred as of
1:43late tens of thousands of innocent and unarmed citizens.
1:47In order to equalize the playing field, this was a much needed intervention that a
1:53lot of Iranians asked for, and fortunately it did happen.
1:57But what's the next step?
1:58Where are we headed to?
2:00The most obvious question will be, once the regime collapses, how do we manage the
2:04transition? I've stepped in to lead this transition with the help of many of my
2:08compatriots from various sectors. We believe that a stable transition will lead to, A, address
2:14the immediate needs of the country, but then set the country on a path of
2:18redevelopment and reconstruction, which is of course something that we were always hoping for, that
2:24could not have happened under this corrupt mafia -like regime.
2:29Iran should have been, had it not been for the revolution, today's South Korea of
2:33the region. Instead, it has become the North Korea of the region.
2:37Why? Not because our people are not gifted or talented or capable, not because we
2:42lack natural resources, it's simply because of a corrupt, bad management, and a regime that
2:48basically took our country hostage, used it as a launching path to export an ideology,
2:53and that's why we are here today.
2:55A different Iran, a democratic, secular Iran, will first and foremost bring about the opportunities
3:00to our nation, but it will open Iran for business again.
3:04Iran is one of the most untapped economic opportunities of the 21st century, and it
3:11could tremendously change the shape of our world in terms of what would be beneficial
3:16to the Iranian people, of course, but also from the vantage point of a country
3:21like the United States and billions of dollars that will be generated as a result
3:26of doing business in Iran.
3:27We figure about one trillion in the first 10 years to the US market, but
3:32also billions of dollars that will be invested into Iran and everything that we need
3:37to have done. in order to rebuild our country.
3:39These are crazy opportunities that we can look forward to.
3:43And it all starts with moving towards this recovery and transition.
3:49And when your father was in charge, it was a monarchy, turned into a dictatorship.
3:55And to be clear, the hope now is to evolve into a democracy with free
4:00elections for the people, average age of people that are on now, early 30s, 31,
4:0532 years old. What would that look like?
4:08What is a possible timeline?
4:10And you have said on other programs and on your YouTube channel, which I suggest
4:14everybody go search for and follow right now because you're speaking directly to the people
4:17on X and on your YouTube channel.
4:21What is the condition on the ground from the people you're talking to?
4:26You said you've been talking to people in the military, civilians and other leadership.
4:31They're ready to move on.
4:33What's the timeline? And what are they telling you is happening on the ground today
4:38as we sit here? Well, I think that now the playing field has been equalized,
4:42meaning that the people could finally, of course, awaiting the end of this campaign, have
4:47a better opportunity to re -engage the streets and take over their homeland.
4:52Of course, part of the equation is how much implosion from within the regime and
4:56how much defections from the regime in the sense of joining with the people this
5:01time and not be an instrument that will halt the people's progress, but instead help
5:05the people in that transition, meaning whether people are in the military or security forces,
5:10as well as a civilian bureaucracy.
5:13Unlike what happened after the fall of Saddam Hussein and debaithification, the scenario of change
5:18in Iran is totally different.
5:20And let's not forget, Iran is a multiple -century -old nation -state.
5:25It's a country that is extremely unified and united for this common purpose.
5:31Under this tent, we have diverse groups that are joining in this national campaign.
5:36People who are on the right, the center, the left, monarchies, Republicans, ethnic groups, religious
5:41groups, every sector of society is engaged.
5:44I've had tremendous amount of support coming from inside Iran.
5:48We have the support of the intelligentsia.
5:52We have the support of universities.
5:53We have the support of the working class.
5:55We have the support of the diaspora that can bring a lot to this equation.
6:00I think this is a good recipe that will allow us to manage this transition,
6:06but set the country to clean up, be ready for business, and create the opportunities
6:12that will finally impact first and foremost Iranians who have been starving as a result
6:18of this regime's corruption, but have a true opportunity to get back on track and
6:22improve their livelihood. And I think it's also good for those who partner with us
6:26in this process, because there's a lot to be done that will be win -win,
6:29as opposed to be lose -lose to the benefit of this corrupt regime that has
6:33been the story of the past almost five decades.
6:36So the difference lies about this change and how crucial it is.
6:39And of course, the reason we want to have a secular democracy, the final form
6:43to be determined by the people of Iran through pre -elections and a constitutional process,
6:48but most importantly is that under equality and the rule of law, all the opportunities
6:53that has been denied our nation as a result of its discrimination, as a result
6:58of pretty much disaffirming the majority of Iranians, now it creates a true opportunity.
7:04And as I said earlier, I think Iranians are quite gifted.
7:06As much as it is attractive to entrepreneurs in the outside world looking in, there
7:12are so many gifted and talented young Iranians who will have a fair chance this
7:16time. the true chance for using all their creativity and genius to bring our country
7:22back online. This will be an excellent, fantastic partnership that we're looking forward to.
7:27So you've spoken about wanting to be on the ground there.
7:30What conditions and what timeline do you have for yourself?
7:34And this seems like a pretty high -risk thing to do.
7:37It would be pretty brave of you to go to the country now.
7:40What conditions have to be met for you to go to Iran, to go home
7:46for the first time in 47 years?
7:49And how close do you think we are to the people taking the streets now
7:53and for starting this transition?
7:56Well, to be honest with you, it's very difficult to put an exact timeline.
8:00Factors that will expedite it is the level of separation from the regime, the level
8:05of defections, the strengthening of domestic organizations and structure.
8:11How can we partner with elements from within that are not joining this campaign?
8:15All of these are factors that will contribute to the rapidity of the transition.
8:20As far as myself being there, obviously, there are security concerns to make sure that
8:24it's safe enough for me to go there.
8:26I'm no use to anyone if I'm dead.
8:28So obviously, we have to keep that in mind.
8:30But I would like to be able to be there as soon as possible, to
8:34be able to help as much as I can in this process.
8:37Obviously, being in a country is an advantage.
8:39It's hard to do things from far away.
8:41I had no choice to be living in exile because of the circumstances.
8:44But I think that the opportunity is presenting itself.
8:47And the first opportunity that is created for me to safely return to Iran, I
8:52will obviously be there. Just this morning, Trump said there will be no deal in
8:56Iran until unconditional surrender is given by whatever is left of the government there.
9:06What do you think of that condition?
9:07Is that the right move?
9:09Do you agree with Trump's ultimatum?
9:11Well, let me look at it from the domestic prism.
9:14In order for a successful transition to occur, it has ultimately to be something that
9:20is legitimate in the eyes of the Iranian people.
9:23We haven't lost so many tens of thousands of lives just to settle for a
9:27continuity of the remnants of this regime.
9:31That will not fly. People will want to have a clean break.
9:34The alternative will be for all those who align with the secular democratic alternative.
9:38And there are some four core principles that whoever adheres to that, including people who
9:44may today peel away from the regime, would be able to agree to work together
9:49on that platform. The first and foremost issue is, of course, Iran's territorial integrity.
9:55That's an issue that is very close to the hearts of millions of Iranians representing
9:59every aspect of our diversified country in terms of ethnicities, religions, and what have you.
10:06But we find ourselves in this united cause under one flag and under one nation.
10:12The second element that is a prerequisite to democracy is a clear separation of religion
10:18from state. That's a critical element for a democracy to occur.
10:22Equality of all citizens under the law and the rule of law, obviously, is a
10:26critical aspect that guarantees all of the rights we're talking about.
10:30And the democratic process itself, meaning the fact that people can elect their representatives to
10:35go to this constitutional assembly to debate the issues of what the next system could
10:40look like and what its laws should be, ratified by the people.
10:43Which would bring us to the election of the first parliament of this new democracy
10:47and, of course, the election of the first government of such democracy.
10:51At which point, the transitional government hands over power.
10:55to the elected representative of the people in the future government.
10:59That's pretty much the direction that we hope to manage this transition.
11:04And I'm playing a role in bringing about this transition with a very well -crafted
11:09plan that is in detail explaining, particularly focusing on the first 100 days.
11:15I created an organization called IPP, which is Iran Prosperity Project.
11:19But its first focus is the first 100 days.
11:22How we immediately stabilize the situation in Iran?
11:24How can we maximize the remaining elements that will join with us to be able
11:29to survive regime change and have a place in the future?
11:32These are the first components.
11:33And then we move forward with the plan.
11:35Two quick questions. Under no circumstances, would that be a monarchy?
11:40I think is a question everybody has for you because you're the prince.
11:45This is a democracy. We don't have princes and democracies.
11:48And then number two, what do you ideally see as your role in the transition?
11:53And then would you like to have the opportunity to run for president and to
11:59lead the country out of this horrific nightmare of 47 years?
12:03My focus is on the process, not the outcome.
12:06And as a neutral arbiter, I'm not taking sides with one form versus the other.
12:12That's for the people of Iran to choose.
12:14And I think the world has seen successful models in both a republican system and
12:18a monarchic system. Examples, a republic that you have like in India or like in
12:25Israel or in France or the United States are not exactly the same, but that's
12:29under the republican structure. In terms of parliamentary monarchies, we have the example of Japan,
12:35Sweden, Spain, other countries. So I don't think that necessarily you can equate democracy with
12:42one outcome in particular. It could be both models that people can emulate.
12:46So at the end of the day, you know, again, it's not for me to
12:49choose the outcome. I'm here to be a bridge towards that outcome.
12:53That's the function of a transitional leader, not to run for office or not to
12:58have an aim for personal position of power or authority, but to be the element
13:03that unites the country towards a common purpose and allow the nation to decide what
13:08is their preferred system. That's what elections and free elections should be all about.
13:12And the ballot box is the only means to measure people's opinion and the majority
13:18will decide on that. And that's the process that I'm in business to bring about.
13:22What do you believe the people of Iran want?
13:25And in that monarchy subset, there are the Gulf monarchies, the kingdom, UAE, Qatar.
13:34They are obviously distinctly different than a parliamentary, you know, system.
13:40So I assume you wouldn't want to see that.
13:43What do you think the people of Iran will vote for?
13:47Well, just what you said.
13:49I mean, a democratic system clearly outlines how it should be and how it should
13:56not. I mean, if you want to look at the closest monarchy to the United
13:59States, technically speaking, it's Canada.
14:01And if you want to look at it that way, and I think Canadians are
14:05quite happy with a democracy that they enjoy.
14:08And again, we have very good models of republic, case in point, the United States.
14:12At the end of the day, as I said, it's for the Iranian people to
14:16determine what would be in their best interest, having looked this time, unlike what happened,
14:22by the way, 50 years ago.
14:23Nobody had a clear idea what Khomeini was suggesting in terms of this vilayat al
14:30-faqih, as they call it, or the tutelage of the Supreme.
14:33leader. By the time he took over and power was established, it was too late.
14:38And since then, we've been hostages to this regime.
14:41This time in full transparency, the Iranian people ought to have a clear idea of
14:46different models presented to them.
14:48And on that basis, having understood every aspect of what it could be, then they
14:53make their choice. This is a process that should be totally transparent with enough time
14:57for debating different ideas. And again, as I said, let the democratic process unfold and
15:02let the people vote in majority, what is their final choice?
15:07I'm not here to determine an outcome.
15:09Again, I stress my role here is to manage this transition and create an opportunity
15:14that people have been deprived of for half a century to finally have a say
15:18as to what they would like to have for themselves in terms of sovereignty and
15:23determining their own future democratically.
15:25Final question, and I'll get into a bunch of details with you, Shervin, as to
15:30the plan, which I know you're helping construct and I'm assuming you'll help execute on.
15:35Trump says he's going to pick the next leader.
15:38Trump says a lot of things.
15:40He says them sometimes in a provocative way.
15:44But he said he's not sure how you would play within your own country.
15:47There's obviously people holding up your picture.
15:49There are people who are maybe vying to take control of this from the previous
15:54administration. Are you in touch with President Trump?
15:58And what's your relationship with him today?
16:00What's your best plea to him or your argument to him to work with you?
16:08Look, there's nothing hidden in the agenda.
16:11Everything is transparent. And I've been communicating with the administration by Steve Witkoff, who announced
16:17it publicly, as far as our channel to President Trump.
16:20And of course, on the other side, in the legislation with members of Congress, senators
16:24and congresspeople to understand a little bit from the American prism, what it is that
16:30we are proposing here. I don't think that President Trump or any other leader in
16:34this world would presume that it is up to them to determine who should be
16:38the next leader in Iran.
16:40I'm sure as democracies, they respect the right for people to make that choice.
16:44And as Western democracies, it should be going without saying that they would believe that
16:50the right to choose the future leaders is only up to the Iranian people.
16:55If the intention is to assist that process, if the intent is to support the
17:00Iranian people in their democratic aspiration, you provide them with the help, but the choice
17:05should be theirs. That has been my position.
17:07And I don't think there's a disagreement on that, whether it is with President Trump
17:11or other world leaders that I've also talked to about this matter.
17:14As I let you go, what should the American people know about the spirit, the
17:19culture, and the people of Iran, including the people who fled in 1979, like you
17:26and your family? Well, I know many Americans who have many Iranian friends.
17:31As a matter of fact, if you just look at the Iranian diaspora in the
17:34United States alone, you will see how much interaction there is between Iranians who are
17:40now Iranian Americans, if you will, many of them, and the kind of relationship that
17:45are built with their American counterpart.
17:48Many people have connections via marriages, many people have connections through business affiliations, many people
17:55have worked with Iranians, many of the high tech companies, including Silicon Valley, employ so
18:01many Iranians, or they are themselves entrepreneurs.
18:04This is the kind of potential, and I'm sure Shervin will talk to you more
18:07about that. But this is the kind of connections there is.
18:10And for Americans that have have traveled to Iran or have known Iranians all these
18:14years, they know what country it represents, what amount of culture, arts, I mean, civilization,
18:22in a true sense, Iranians represent.
18:24And they've been completely suffocated under this regime.
18:28But once Iran is, you know, free from its shackles, I'm sure a lot of
18:34Americans know what difference there is between an Iran that wants to be friends with
18:40America, that is not the regime that has from its inception called death to America
18:45or death to Israel, for instance.
18:47But there are Iranians who actually love to America.
18:51Let me just give you a last parting thought, because I think every now and
18:54then I need to remind your audience and other audiences, we talked about other countries
18:59in the region. Remember 9 -11?
19:03Yes. And how many people on the streets of many of the so -called allies
19:07of the United States were celebrating that attack on that sinister day?
19:10The only country in the entire world and the entire region that actually stood in
19:16candlelight vigils in sympathy to the victims of the 9 -11 terrorist attacks were no
19:21other than the Iranian people themselves holding candlelight vigils in Iran.
19:26And they've been messaging America for years now.
19:29We are not your enemies.
19:31In fact, they've been chanting slogans in Iran saying, they lie to us, it's America.
19:36Our enemy is right here.
19:38This is the Iran I'm talking about.
19:40This is the people I'm talking about.
19:42And I know many Americans, both in the civilian sector, including military forces in America,
19:47know that. And I think that's something that I'm sure I'm not the only one,
19:51you know, talking about this.
19:54You will hear from other Iranians who will pretty much confirm what I just said.
19:58That's why this partnership is so vital for us because together we'll be able to
20:03rebuild, you know, a different world.
20:06Iran will bring an element of stability to the region and beyond.
20:09And that can only play to the interest of America itself.
20:13We need to have this vital partnership.
20:15And I think we'll be able to succeed because I see everybody now is very
20:19much committed to work together towards bringing this agenda forward.
20:23Well, we're all praying for the people of Iran to have a democracy and what
20:28an amazing moment will be when you get to return in whatever capacity and help
20:34this transition. And 93 million people who have been suffering will be living free in
20:40a democracy and the impact that could have on the world.
20:43And obviously that region would be by far the largest democracy in the Middle East.
20:50And this could have ramifications in terms of humanity that would be absolutely stunning and
20:55beautiful and the prosperity would be amazing.
20:59The Iranian people I met in my life, Prince, when I was living in Los
21:03Angeles, all these great Persians I would meet were some of the most joyful and
21:10industrious, beautiful individuals I've met that remind me of my Greek and Irish heritage, including
21:15you, Shervin. So Prince Reza, thank you so much for your time.
21:18I know you're extremely busy.
21:19It's very important for the all -in audience to hear from you and to understand
21:23what's going on in your vision.
21:24And we would love to have you back when you're on the ground with your
21:28people and that your people are free.
21:30Thank you again. Looking forward to it.
21:33All right, Shervin, thank you so much for setting this up.
21:35I asked for very few favors for my friends, but as a good friend, you
21:39made this happen for the all -in community.
21:42So I thank you for that.
21:43And as I said to the Prince, the people and the Persians here in the
21:49United States, maybe you could tell us a little bit about your story and what
21:52this means to you. And then we can get into your involvement here and what
21:56you hope to see in those first hundred days.
21:58Of course. First of all, Jason, thank you for opening up this tremendous platform to
22:03the Iranian people and to the prince.
22:06As you can see, the crown prince Reza Pahlavi is a great man, the most
22:11courageous man that I've ever met.
22:14And he's the highest integrity human I've met as well.
22:17We're very blessed as a people to have a leader like him who has lived
22:23a very clean life and has stepped up in a very courageous way.
22:29He's put it all on the line for his people and his legacy to play
22:33this tremendous transitional role to evolve the Iranian nation to a democracy.
22:41And this long nightmare of 47 years that all of my Iranian brothers and sisters
22:46have suffered through is almost over.
22:50And also tremendous gratitude to President Trump for his courageous leadership on this matter.
22:57I don't think any other president would have the courage and the principle and the
23:02values to take on this Islamic regime of terror.
23:06As you saw last month, they massacred over 43 ,000 Iranians who were just peacefully
23:14protesting. They gunned them down with anti -material bullets.
23:18I put a post of a Coca -Cola can next to these bullets.
23:22It was bigger than the can.
23:23This is super important to meditate on for a second here.
23:28This regime is a murderous and evil regime.
23:30To turn those guns and mow down 40 ,000, over 40 ,000 individuals peacefully protesting
23:37is just an act of savagery and brutality that I think most people don't appreciate
23:43or don't fully appreciate. There hasn't been enough coverage of that fact.
23:48And you are a bipartisan type person.
23:52I've known you for many years.
23:54You were a super funder of Obama.
23:57He wasn't able to get this done.
23:59Biden wasn't able to get this done.
24:00Bush wasn't able to get this done.
24:01This has been something that presidents have struggled with.
24:05And you got to give Trump credit here.
24:07There's a lot of debate over why this is happening.
24:10Is it Israel driving it?
24:11Is it the relationship with China?
24:12We talked about that in part one.
24:14At the end of the day, as a son of Iran, what matters is that
24:20the people are free. All these other conspiracy theories and motivations do not matter to
24:26you or the people, yeah?
24:28Absolutely not. But one of my key principles is our moral security presages our physical
24:38security. So this has as much to do with America's security as it does Iranians'
24:46security and livelihood. As you saw, this regime is not only evil enough to mow
24:51down 43 ,000 innocent people in 48 hours, their reaction to this liberation operation is
25:00to attack over 12 countries in the region.
25:03Imagine if they had a nuclear bomb.
25:05They would use it. They would use it.
25:08There's not even a doubt in my mind that they would have used it by
25:10now if they had it.
25:12So this is incredibly important for America's national security.
25:18As the prince mentioned, 9 -11 happened.
25:22That's the same kind of ideology, except the problem we have in our modern time,
25:27is that basically... criminal and terrorist organizations have taken over sovereign nations with nuclear bombs
25:33or seeking nuclear bombs, wherever you have Russia, China, you have North Korea, and you
25:40have Iran, and then you have Venezuela.
25:42So the president has not only gotten rid of the Maduro in Venezuela, he has
25:47now begun this process of dismantling this Islamic regime, who is absolutely not a legitimate
25:55government, and not a legitimate nation -state.
26:00And the only leader that is legitimate to lead us to a transition process to
26:06become a democracy is the Crown Prince Rezapalavi.
26:10We are very lucky, I think, in our modern times to have three leaders who
26:15are living at the same time and leading at the same time as President Trump,
26:19President Netanyahu, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the Crown Prince Rezapalavi, all in this one moment
26:27in time. I think we're living in biblical times.
26:30When 10 -7 happened, I started the Israeli -Iranian alliance with Michael Eisenberg, Michael Burkheim,
26:38Jesse Mateen, Sean Radd, and we started to host these salons with the Crown Prince.
26:44One was in New York, Michael Eisenberg flew in, Dan Loeb, lots of leaders came.
26:50And that was the beginning of the process that was seated with a breakfast with
26:55Michael Eisenberg as a VC and the number one VC in Israel 15 years ago,
27:01where we said, we have to do more between Israeli and Jewish community and the
27:05Persian -Iranian community, and someday we're going to have tea in Tehran.
27:09And we wrote an op -ed last year about this, and we began to build
27:13these bridges. And this connection between the Jewish people and the Iranian people goes back
27:202 ,500 years. Cyrus the Great, who was in the Bible, freed the Jews from
27:25slavery in Babylon, returned them to their homeland in Jerusalem, and rebuilt their temple.
27:32And he is celebrated for that courageous act in the Bible and in Jewish religious
27:39holidays. And it is a tremendous connection that goes back now 2 ,500 years later
27:46in kind of biblical symmetry.
27:48You have the Jewish people helping free the Iranian people from their slavery.
27:53And at the same time, there is a connection between America's beginning that many people
27:58don't know, is that Thomas Jefferson was a student of Cyrus the Great, who declared
28:04the first Declaration of Human Rights.
28:06And a lot of the principles that went into the Declaration of Independence of America
28:11and the founding of America and the Bill of Rights and the Constitution have its
28:16roots in Cyrus the Great and Persian history.
28:19And so this connection between America's founding and the principles that Iranians espoused for 2
28:27,500 years is this beautiful connection between the Jewish people, the American people, and the
28:32Iranian people. And this could have such a tremendous impact on the region.
28:37You have essentially a lone democracy in Israel.
28:41And now to have 93 million Iranians in a democracy, if that can be achieved,
28:46and listen, there's a long way to go, this could spiral out of control.
28:49This was a very high risk move by Trump, President Trump.
28:54So you give him a lot of credit for that.
28:56But he has to own this.
28:57So let's be humble, and we got to pray for the best here.
29:01Things can spiral out of control in these kind of situations.
29:03But let's hope that we do get to democracy there.
29:07I'm curious. Chris, Shervin, you've spent a lot of time in the Middle East.
29:10I have, over the last three years, gotten myself educated and caught up, I hope,
29:13and have started doing business there and really meeting a larger swath of people.
29:17The Gulf monarchies have modernized incredibly, starting with the UAE, Saudi, now the kingdom, and
29:25of course, Qatar as well, modernizing Oman, Kuwait.
29:30What would Iran, going straight to a democracy, if that is even possible, what would
29:36that do to the region in your mind?
29:38I think that everything, what the Gulf countries have done is a tremendous case study
29:46of what the potential for the Middle East truly is.
29:49Being blessed by God to have oil, gas, the way that most GCC countries have,
29:56and Iran so has, gives them an advantage to be able to have the resources
30:02independently to develop themselves. And when you look at what happened in UAE over the
30:06last 25 years, I went to UAE in 2001, 2002, and there was a smattering
30:12of buildings there. Yeah, I've seen the pictures of Dubai then and now.
30:16It's incredible. Extraordinary. Yeah. It's incredible.
30:19And it reminds me of what America was like in the 1950s.
30:23When they came back from World War II, Eisenhower built the interstate highway system, and
30:28America developed into this superpower.
30:31And in many ways, the GCC countries espoused that American mentality of everything is possible.
30:38Anything is possible. And they've manifested their greatness.
30:43And you look at Iran, you have 93 million unbelievably brilliant people who have been
30:48held back. You look at the Iranian diaspora in America.
30:51Just our fellow friends, who you know, Dara, myself at Uber, of course, Omid Kourastani
31:02at Google, Ali at Databricks, you know, Pierre Omid Jara at eBay.
31:08When you add up the numbers, it gets the trillions of dollars of value have
31:12been created by this small population of Iranians in America, especially in Silicon Valley.
31:17And I've been blessed to be part of that circle.
31:19And, you know, one, thank God for America that we had a safe sanctuary to
31:24come and develop our brilliance.
31:26But there are as many brilliant Iranians, way more brilliant Iranians.
31:32Yeah, on a numbers basis, it's a magnitude more.
31:34And so this will be a free democratic Iran will be the greatest peace dividend
31:40and economic dividend to be gifted to the world and to the region.
31:43So I think what will happen is we will have an acceleration of the Middle
31:48East becoming this unbelievable place where innovation and investment in the future is happening.
31:55We're at the dawn of AGI and advanced superintelligence.
31:59We have quantum computing, which you and I, you know, and Emil Michael and others
32:03have done with our SPAC and D -Wave.
32:08These technologies are going to fast forward humanity and being able to tap into the
32:16resources of the Middle East and Iran in human capital and in oil and gas
32:22wealth to be able to unleash an accelerated future is something that we all look
32:27forward to. And one of the things the team, the Crown Prince's vision, this is
32:33a 175 page report right here, the Iran Prosperity Project.
32:37And I'm blessed to be an advisor there with many other very talented Iranians.
32:43And this piece by piece.
32:45And this piece by piece.
32:45Month by month has a sequence of plans to rebuild Iran, as the crown prince
32:52was talking about, so that when there is a free Iran, there will be a
32:56four month process to get to a referendum and then a six month process to
33:03assemble Iranians to write a constitution.
33:07And then a 14 month process to actually finalize the constitution and then have a
33:15vote on the constitution. So you'll have a sequence of events that will then lead
33:20to a legal framework where the new Iran will be able to actually execute on
33:28this on this tremendous plan and rebuild all aspects and all sectors of the economy.
33:33And that'll lead to, you know, this new Iran that we're all have been dreaming
33:39and praying for. And so this plan has been worked on for some time.
33:44He seems like he's got, you know, a third or so of the constituents there
33:48who are in favor of him.
33:49There are some people who are strongly opposed.
33:52Last time, his father was not perfect.
33:54He's answered many of the hard questions about his father's tenure.
33:58What are the chances that the existing regime, what's left of it, there are people
34:03in that who would collaborate on moving to a democracy where specifically religion and the
34:11government were separated? This was something MBS was able to do in Saudi, but not
34:16without strong resistance and great risk to himself.
34:20Oh, this is a high risk thing, you know, with some of these radicalized individuals
34:25who want religion to rule over democracy.
34:28So maybe you can unpack that a bit.
34:30Absolutely. The vast majority of Iranians want a separation of church and state, of mosque
34:39and state. And we've seen, what, 47, we've had an A -B test, in Silicon
34:46Valley speak, of what happens when you have a system that is controlled by mullahs.
34:51It has led to absolute disaster and mayhem and evil.
34:56And so the vast majority are out there and they're saying Reza Pahlavi's name.
35:01If you look at the videos from January, they're saying Javid Shah, they're saying his
35:06name to return. He called on them to come in the streets at 8 p
35:10.m. on the 8th and 9th, and they came out in droves and by the
35:14millions in response to them.
35:16So the idea that we don't know who the Iranian people want to help lead
35:21this transition process, the proof is in the pudding.
35:24You just have to look at the videos and look at the actual facts.
35:28He's the only leader that Iranians are by name calling out for to come back.
35:35And they're also calling for Trump and Netanyahu to please help save them from this
35:41terror regime. And as we've seen in the last week, their prayers have been answered
35:47in a tremendous way. And what is going to happen is basically a dismantling and
35:53a defanging of this regime's capabilities to use terror, to use their military capabilities.
35:59And we have to let that run its course.
36:03As the president said, this is probably about four weeks of work.
36:07You know, there was a leak, I think, in the Washington Post today that the
36:1282nd Airborne was activated. And that's a signal that this is going to potentially lead
36:21to even more support in this liberal.
36:24operation to completely dismantle this regime.
36:29Defections are a big part of the strategy.
36:32Have the defection started yet, or is that too risky for the individuals on the
36:35ground? What are you hearing through your back channels?
36:38Well, the Crown Prince had a system for people to communicate securely with him and
36:45his team, and over 50 ,000 people in the military have actually responded to that.
36:50You saw some defections that went viral during the protests and before the protests of
36:57different military members. We expected that as the dismantling process continues, and many of the,
37:05as you saw, the top leadership of the IRGC was eradicated in the first 24
37:11hours. The Supreme Leader Khamenei, who was just an absolutely evil man, was gone in
37:18the first 60 seconds. He spent 47 years threatening the world.
37:22He lasted 60 seconds. And that's going to continue.
37:26And so I think it's going to be a very rational thing for the rest
37:31of who remains to realize that if they don't actually have a complete surrender and
37:40capitulate, and for the ones that haven't actually executed the orders of genocide against the
37:46Iranian people, there will be an opportunity for people to actually be a part of
37:51the reformation and the reconstruction of Iran.
37:55The plan actually says even people in the military will be able to, one, either
38:00have early retirement for the ones that didn't actually execute those acts of terror against
38:08the Iranian people, and then others who are talented and have the ability to serve
38:14and want to serve, they'll also be able to show up at work and continue
38:18to get paid and have some role wherever in the military and the government.
38:22So this isn't going to be a hunting down of people.
38:26The hunting down is happening right now.
38:28There'll be a process of peace and reconstruction and rehabilitation that'll happen.
38:35And we're going to also need to have a lot of specialists to come in
38:41and help people with the trauma that they've been through for 47 years.
38:45This is going to be a multi -threaded...
38:48Multi -generation trauma, yeah. Multi -generational, yes.
38:52Tell me about the Kurds being backed.
38:55Musad and the CIA are backing, reportedly, militias in the West, and that's going to
39:04play a role, yeah? I think, you know, we have to be very, very careful
39:09because a red line for the Iranian people is we have existed as a country
39:15for 5 ,000 years, as a people for 5 ,000 years.
39:18Wherever invaders came in or out, we always outlasted our invaders.
39:22These people who have taken over for 47 years were occupiers.
39:27They weren't really truly Iranians.
39:29They were occupiers of this country.
39:31And they'll be booted just like Ganges Khan and everyone else who came into Iran
39:37were booted. And so it's very important.
39:41If there's any kind of separatist movement, we will lose the goodwill and the support
39:47of millions and millions of Iranians.
39:50And so... So it has to be one country.
39:52It has to be one country.
39:53The territorial integrity of Iran must be protected.
39:57That's a red line for the crown prince.
39:58It's a red line for the Iranian people.
40:01And... So that's incredibly important to project that.
40:07Whether there's collaborations that can happen to be able to work together to fight for
40:15the liberation to be completed and for a march on to Tehran and the crown
40:20prince being able to come back to lead this transition and physically come back to
40:25his homeland. Can you imagine that after 47 years of being away from his nation,
40:30me being away from my - You've never been able to go back or have
40:34you snuck in and visited - I haven't been back for, you know, basically I
40:39was born in 1976. My dad, the last Shah, was sending a lot of the
40:44top brilliant people on scholarships around the world.
40:47The Iranian community and graduate school and universities was the largest population in the 1970s.
40:53He was educating this whole class of people and we were going back to rebuild
40:58and build Iran into this great nation.
41:01We're at the cusp of greatness.
41:03So my father came to Washington, D .C., where I am right now, and I
41:07grew up here on 16th Street in Washington.
41:12And he got his master's degree at Catholic University, 1976 to 1978.
41:19And I remember when we first came, it was a bicentennial of America.
41:23Yeah, 1976. And so he returned, we returned to Iran in 1978, right before the
41:31revolution, really bad timing. And my dad had been promoted to head of radio intelligence
41:36for the Shah. And this all happened.
41:39The revolution happened. Khomeini was coming back.
41:42And my dad made the courageous decision to help the U .S.
41:47embassy get radio communications devices to them, do foreign language broadcasts to tell foreigners in
41:54Iran how to get out of the country.
41:55This was from the different embassies.
41:57And Khomeini and Khomeini put my father, Abraham, on the execution list.
42:02So he went into hiding for 10 months.
42:04I didn't see my dad for 10 months.
42:06And in kind of a kismet moment, someone he helped get a job in radio
42:11intelligence came to our home and said to my mom, I want to help.
42:16And she didn't trust him and said, I don't know where he is.
42:18But she checked with my dad.
42:20And they came back. And my dad said, no, you can trust him.
42:23And that guy was the new head of security for the Mertabad Airport in Tehran.
42:29And he personally met my father.
42:31And I remember this moment, I woke up to my brother crying.
42:34And my dad was at the door after 10 months to say goodbye because he
42:38didn't know if he was going to survive.
42:40And he went to the airport, met his friend, and he walked him onto the
42:45Air France flight. And, you know, crying, he flew out and came to America.
42:52And the people he had helped helped him get his papers and everything in order.
42:56And then we were stuck in Iran for two years.
42:59Saddam invaded. Bombs were falling on us every night.
43:03And the seconds were going off.
43:05So then we escaped with my mom and my brother and sister came to America
43:08with $35. My dad was driving a taxi while getting his PhD.
43:13My dad. A great paradox.
43:15My mom was like, yeah, I did Uber.
43:17He actually helped me to Uber.
43:18That was one of the things that my first meeting with Jason, with Travis, I
43:24told him that story. And I know that, like, growing up in an orange and
43:29black taxi cab in Washington, D .C.
43:31helped me win the Uber deal against all the greats in venture.
43:35You know, it's all full circle.
43:37Only in America would that be possible.
43:40You know, the son of...
43:41a taxi driver and a maid, you know, coming to America with nothing, be able
43:45to have the blessing of the life that we've had.
43:49And I've never forgotten those roots.
43:52I've tried to serve America and I'm, you know, now helping in any way that
44:01I can to help the crown prince in this transition process for a free Iran
44:07and rebuild Iran into something great.
44:10So make a, what's extraordinary to me about the Iranian people is they have maintained
44:15even under this oppression, that spirit 47 years later.
44:21I don't know if you've ever seen the Anthony Bourdain, you know, episode when he
44:25goes there and it was always touched me.
44:27I don't know if it was like a decade ago when he did it and
44:30he said, I can't believe it.
44:31This, these people are Americans.
44:32They're, they're eating pizza hut.
44:34They're listening to music. They're having some beers on their back porch.
44:36They're dancing. They are on VPNs, you know, understanding culture and what's going on around
44:42the world, even under the oppression, women, gays, everybody in between they're suffering and they're
44:52still have that joy of life that every Persian I've ever met will stay with
44:58you like the Greeks or the Irish, and they will close the restaurant.
45:02They will talk in the restaurant closes the door.
45:05The owner of the restaurant sits down and you just talk for another hour.
45:07Some of the most beautiful people I've ever met.
45:09And it's just, I'm so glad that you are engaged in this.
45:13Very much appreciate you bringing the Prince here today.
45:15We understand the soul of the Iranian and that is, is that we're the, we
45:19love to host our friends on the social media and, and you know, there truly
45:26are as American as you can be.
45:28We love our freedom. We've suffered for so long.
45:32And we're so thankful for president Trump having, having the courage to take on this
45:38evil regime. And we look forward to hosting all in pod in Tehran.
45:43That would be sooner than later.
45:46One of the great bucket lists of my life to be able to go to
45:48Tehran and, and host the podcast there and have tea with you in Tehran.
45:53Let's put it on the schedule.
45:54You're from today. The best food in the world.
45:57I can't wait. What's the signature, what's the signature for you?
46:00What's the signature dish? What's the, what's your favorite?
46:03Everyone loves the Persian kebabs, right?
46:06But the kebabs in Iran are something else.
46:10There's like, it's a, it's a tremendous, you know, food culture.
46:14And the national dish is called Orma Sabzi, which is a stew of lamb.
46:20And, and my mom was like the greatest Persian cook in the world.
46:25And she would cook it for three days.
46:28And these foods, I can't wait to, to break bread with you in a free
46:32room. It'll be. Yeah. I mean, that's one of the things the Greeks and the
46:37Iranian share is that love of lamb.
46:39Oh, cannot wait. All right, my brother.
46:42Thank you. I'm so glad you're engaged in this.
46:44Gives me hope. And good luck in the next three, four or five weeks.
46:50Let's hope and pray for the best to the all in audience.
46:54We'll see you next time.
46:55Bye. We'll let your winners ride.
47:00Rain man, David. And it said, we open source it to the fans and they've
47:07just gone crazy with it.
47:08Love you. I'm the queen of Ken Y.
47:17Besties are gone. That's my dog taking an election, your driveway sucks Oh man My
47:26habitasher will meet me at what it's like We should all just get a room
47:29and just have one big huge orgy Because they're all just useless It's like this
47:32sexual tension that they just need to release somehow Wet your feet Wet your feet
47:40We need to get merch I'm doing all it I'm doing all it