Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

Ep 85: The Path to Regime Change in Iran with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi


Listen Later

In 1979, Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi was attending fighter pilot school in Lubbock, Texas when the Islamic Revolution overthrew his father's reign. A radical theocracy seized power and began extinguishing freedoms, persecuting minorities, and taking a pro-Western Iran back to the Middle Ages. Since then, the Crown Prince has lived in exile as a leading voice for a secular and democratic Iran. What is his view of the Revolution? Why does he believe regime change is possible today? And how should the U.S. and the West deal with Iran?

Given Iran's recent attack on Israel, we get a rare and timely perspective on the power dynamics within Iran and why the current regime is more fragile than we realize. The Crown Prince paints a picture of his homeland pre-and-post Revolution, and explains why many governments misunderstand the fanatical leadership of Iran. He lays out his strategy of "maximum support" and how combining sanctions and external pressure with internal support, such as internet access and financial resources for protestors, could someday topple the regime. And if it does, he details a post-regime strategy to transition the government toward a secular democracy. We also discuss the longstanding history between the Persian and Jewish people, and how, with the right leadership, the region could once again become dynamic and prosperous.

[NOTE: this conversation was recorded shortly before Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel.]



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.joelonsdale.com
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Joe Lonsdale: American OptimistBy Joe Lonsdale

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

148 ratings


More shows like Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

View all
This Week in Startups by Jason Calacanis

This Week in Startups

1,278 Listeners

a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,044 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

522 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

1,947 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,289 Listeners

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry by Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

798 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,254 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

424 Listeners

The Memo by Howard Marks by Oaktree Capital Management

The Memo by Howard Marks

402 Listeners

The Network State Podcast by ns.com

The Network State Podcast

114 Listeners

"Moment of Zen" by Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez

"Moment of Zen"

91 Listeners

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups by Conviction

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups

127 Listeners

The Ben & Marc Show by Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz

The Ben & Marc Show

125 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

466 Listeners

Uncapped with Jack Altman by Alt Capital

Uncapped with Jack Altman

34 Listeners