<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Reza Pahlavi walked onto the main stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, to a standing ovation and chants of \u201cJavid Shah\u201d \u2014 Long live the king. He delivered a speech titled \u201cMake Iran Great Again.\u201d The room was at capacity. Security stopped allowing people in. Iranian flags were everywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cClose your eyes for a moment and imagine a free Iran,\u201d Pahlavi told the crowd<\/a>. \u201cNo more nuclear threats, no more terrorism, no more hostage taking, no more closing of the Strait of Hormuz.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a vivid picture. It was also being painted inside a convention center in suburban Dallas while most of the country Pahlavi wants to lead likely could not hear it. According to internet monitor NetBlocks, Iran has been under a self-imposed internet blackout for 28 days<\/a>, with connectivity still severely limited. Only users on a state-approved whitelist can get online.<\/p>\n CPAC just gave a roaring ovation to a future for Iran that most Iranians could barely watch, weigh in on, or help shape.<\/p>\n