Cruz Calls for Arming Iranian Opposition to Achieve Regime Collapse in CBS Podcast Interview

Sen. Ted Cruz said the United States should arm Iranian protesters and opposition forces with the explicit goal of bringing about the collapse of the Iranian regime, arguing that Iranians themselves should overthrow their government rather than relying on American ground forces.

In an interview on the “School of War” podcast hosted by CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, the Texas Republican stated, “I think our objective should be regime collapse.” Cruz said he has repeatedly urged President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders to provide weapons to those opposing the government in Tehran. “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,” he said.

Cruz indicated he holds no strong preference for any particular successor to the current Iranian leadership. “I don’t particularly care who comes next,” he said, whether it is the son of the former shah, the Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group, or other local figures, “as long as they are not an Islamist who hates America and is actively trying to kill Americans.”

The comments come as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its sixth month and the Trump administration pursues diplomatic avenues, including efforts toward a potential agreement. Cruz criticized a June memorandum of understanding involving the two countries as a “disaster” and argued for sustained military and economic pressure on Tehran, including continued strikes on Iranian military targets.

Cruz first publicly advocated arming Iranian protesters in late January following a major wave of demonstrations and a subsequent government crackdown that, according to sources cited by CBS News, resulted in thousands of deaths. He has consistently framed support for internal opposition as a means of achieving regime change without direct large-scale U.S. military intervention on the ground.

The senator’s position highlights ongoing differences within Republican ranks and between some lawmakers and the administration over the end goals of U.S. policy toward Iran. While the White House has focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities, securing shipping routes, and exploring negotiated outcomes, Cruz has pressed for a more explicit strategy aimed at the fall of the Islamic Republic through empowerment of its domestic opponents.

No immediate response from the White House to Cruz’s latest remarks was reported. The interview underscores the continued debate in Washington over how far the United States should go in supporting forces seeking to overturn the Iranian government amid the protracted conflict.