With the U.S.-Iran conflict entering its sixth month, Senator Ted Cruz has advocated for a more aggressive U.S. stance against Iran's regime. Speaking to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean on the "School of War" podcast on August 7, 2026, Cruz stated, "I think our objective should be regime collapse."

Cruz urged President Trump to increase pressure on Iran by arming Iranian protesters opposing the government. He emphasized that the goal is to enable Iranians to overthrow their own government without direct American military involvement. "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 said.

The senator expressed openness to supporting various opposition groups, including the son of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, and the Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group, provided they are not Islamist factions hostile to the U.S. "I don't have a dog whether it's the son of the Shah, whether it is the [Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group], whether it is someone local, as long as they are not an Islamist who hates America and is actively trying to kill Americans," Cruz explained.

Cruz criticized a memorandum of understanding related to Iran, calling it a "disaster" and a "terrible deal" that could lead to Iran receiving billions in sanctions relief and $300 billion in economic development funds, potentially allowing Iran a permanent role in the Strait of Hormuz. He warned, "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, according to sources cited by CBS News.

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

Sources