With the U.S.-Iran conflict entering its sixth month, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz has called on President Trump to intensify pressure on Iran's regime. Speaking to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean on the "School of War" podcast on August 7, 2026, Cruz advocated for arming Iranians who oppose their government to enable them to overthrow the regime themselves.

"I think our objective should be regime collapse," Cruz said. He emphasized that the U.S. should avoid deploying American troops and instead support Iranians fighting for their own country by providing weapons to protesters. Cruz stated, "What I believe we should do, what I have urged President Trump repeatedly, what I've urged Israel to do repeatedly, is arm the protesters, give them the guns, to let them overthrow their own government so that it's not American boots on the ground, it's Iranians fighting for their own country."

Cruz expressed openness to various opposition groups, including the son of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, and the Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group, as long as they are not Islamist factions hostile to America.

He criticized a memorandum of understanding that could lead to billions in sanctions relief and $300 billion in economic development funds for Iran, warning it might allow Iran a "permanent role with the Strait of Hormuz." Cruz said, "You'll forgive me if I'm not terribly eager to give them $300 billion to facilitate their carrying out their stated intent of murdering us."

The Trump administration clarified in June that the $300 billion in reconstruction funds would be voluntary and sourced from Gulf states and private investors, not the U.S. government.

Cruz initially pushed for arming protesters in late January after Iran's crackdown on the country's largest wave of demonstrations in years, which reportedly resulted in at least 12,000 deaths.

President Trump has also urged ordinary Iranians to "take over your government" and oust the hardline clerical regime that has ruled Iran since 1979.

Sources