Jason: All right, everybody. Welcome back to part two of the All-In podcast, episode 263. We promised you a part two because we are very lucky that my dear friend Shvvin Pishavar was able to set up a very important historic interview for us today. None other than Prince Resa Pavi is here and we have a limited amount of time with you uh Reza. And uh may I call you Resa or should I call you Prince Resa? ... It's great to have you and this is a moment I think you've been waiting 47 close to 50 years for which is we are at this moment in time looking at potentially the people of Iran being free. You left the country and when you were 17 years old to become a pilot and now you are looking to help your people with a transition post this military activity this operation essentially a war that's going on right now that we all hope gets resolved quickly. I think people would love to know what is your vision for Iran post this uh military action.

Reza Pahlavi: Well, thank you again for the opportunity. Before I get into that, I wanted to simply uh stress the importance of this intervention that to us was like a rescue mission. It was literally an a humanitarian intervention to protect more lives that would otherwise be lost under this extremely brutal and repressive regime that as you know has massacred as of late uh tens of thousands of innocent and unarmed citizens in order to equalize the playing field. This was a much needed uh intervention that a lot of Iranians asked for and fortunately it did happen. But what's the next step? Where are we headed to? The most obvious question will be once the regime collapses how do we manage the transition. I've stepped in to lead this transition with the help of many of my compatriots from various sectors. We believe that a stable transition will lead to a address the immediate needs of the country but then set the country on a path of redevelopment and reconstruction which is of course something that we were always hoping for that could not have happened under this corrupt mafiaike regime. Iran should have been had it not been for the revolution today's South Korea of the region. Instead, it has become the North Korea of the region. Why? Not because our people are not gifted or talented or capable, not because we lack uh natural resources. It's simply because of a corrupt bad management and a regime that basically took our country hostage, used it as a launching pad to export an ideology. And that's why we are here today. A different Iran, a democratic secular Iran will first and foremost bring about the opportunities to our nation. But it will open Iran for business again. Iran is one of the most untapped economic opportunities of the 21st century. And it could tremendously uh change the shape of our world in terms of what would be beneficial to the Iranian people of course but also from the vantage point of a country like the United States and billions of dollars that will be generated as a result of doing business in Iran.

Jason: And when your father was in charge, it was a monarchy turned into a dictatorship. And to be clear, the hope now is to evolve into a democracy with free elections for the people. Average age of people in Iran now early 30s, 31, 32 years old. What would that look like? what is a possible timeline and you are uh have said on other programs and on your YouTube channel which I suggest everybody go search for and follow right now because you're speaking directly to the people on X and on your YouTube channel. What is what is the condition on the ground from the people you're talking to? You said you've been talking to uh people in the military, civilians and other leadership. They're ready to move on. What's the timeline and what are they telling you is happening on the ground today as we sit here?

Reza Pahlavi: Well, I think that now the playing field has been equalized, meaning that the people could finally, of course, awaiting the end of this campaign have a better opportunity to re-engage the streets and take over uh their homeland. ... and let's not forget Iran is a multiple century old nation state. It's a country that is extremely unified and united for this common purpose. Under this tent, we have diverse uh groups that are joining in this national campaign. People who are on the right, the center, the left, monarchists, Republicans, ethnic groups, religious groups, every sector of society is engaged. ... and of course the reason we want to have a secular democracy, the final form to be determined by the people of Iran through pre-elections and a constitutional process. But most importantly is that under equality and the rule of law, all the opportunities that has been denied our nation as a result of his discrimination... now it creates a true opportunity. ... I created an organization called IP which which is Iran prosperity project but it first focus is the first 100 days. How we immediately stabilize the situation in Iran.

Jason: Two quick questions. Under no circumstances, would that be a monarchy? Uh I think uh is a question everybody has for you because you're the prince. This is a democracy. We don't have princes in democracies. And then number two, what do you ideally see as your role in the transition? And then would you like to have the opportunity to run for president and to lead the country out of this horrific nightmare of 47 years?

Reza Pahlavi: My focus is on the process, not the outcome. And in as a neutral arbiter, I'm not taking sides with one form versus the other. That's for the people of Iran to choose. And I think the world has seen successful models in both a republican system and a monarchic system. ... So at the end of the day, you know, again, uh it's not for me to choose the outcome. I'm here to be a bridge towards that outcome. That's the function of a transitional leader, not to run for office or not to have an aim for personal uh position or power or authority, but to be the element that unites the country towards a common purpose and allow the nation to decide what is their preferred system.

Jason: Final question... Trump says he's going to pick the next leader. ... Are you in touch with President Trump and what's your relationship with him today? What's your best plea to him or your argument to him to work with you?

Reza Pahlavi: Look, uh there's nothing hidden in the agenda. Everything is transparent and I've been communicating with the administration by uh Steve Witkov who announced it publicly. ... I don't think that President Trump or any other leader in this world would presume that it is up to them to determine who should be the next leader in Iran. I'm sure as democracies they respect the right for people to make that choice... If the intention is to assist that process if the intent is to support the Iranian people in their democratic aspiration you provide them with the help but the choice should be theirs.

Reza Pahlavi: Let me just give you a last parting thought... Remember 911? And how many people on the streets of many of the so-called allies of the United States were celebrating that attack on that sinister day. The only country in the entire world in the entire region that actually stood in candlelight vigils in sympathy to the victims of the 911 terrorist attacks were no other than the Iranian people themselves holding candle light vigils in Iran. And they've been messaging America for years now. We are not your enemies. In fact, they've been chanting slogans in Iran saying they lie to us. It's America. Our enemy is right here.

Jason: All right, Shervin. Thank you so much for setting this up. ... as a son of Iran, what matters is that the people are free. ... maybe you could tell us a little bit about your story and and what this means to you and then we can get into your involvement here and what you hope to see in those first 100 days.

Shervin Pishevar: Of course. Uh first of all, Jason, thank you for opening up this tremendous platform to the Iranian people and to the prince. Uh as you can see, uh the crown prince Razip is a is a great man. uh the most courageous man that I've ever met. ... And uh also a tremendous gratitude to President Trump uh for his courageous leadership on this matter. ... As you saw last month, uh they massacred uh over 43,000 Iranians who were just peacefully protesting.

Shervin Pishevar: I hadn't been back... I was born in 1976. My dad... was educating this whole um class of people and we were going back to to rebuild and build Iran into this great nation. ... The revolution happened... My father Abraham was on the execution list. So he went into hiding for 10 months. ... and he walked him onto the Air France flight... Came to America with $35. My dad was driving a taxi while getting his PhD. ... growing up in a orange and black taxi cab in in in Washington DC helped me win the Uber deal against all the greats in venture.

Shervin Pishevar: And so this will be a free democratic Iran will be the greatest peace dividend and economic dividend to be gifted to the world and to the region. ... And one of the things the team uh the crown prince's vision uh this is a 175page report right here the Iran prosperity project... rebuilding Iran... so that when there is a free Iran there will be a a four-month process C to get to a a referendum. ... then a 14-month process to actually finalize uh the the constitution.