Ted Cruz

Has met him, backed him in public, or asked the White House to work with him. A member who says Iranians have rejected the monarchy is marked against.

• Unclear

  Said in an interview that he does not care who leads Iran after the Islamic Republic, naming the son of the Shah as one of several acceptable options.

  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.

  August 2026 · Six months into war: Cruz urges Trump to arm protesters to trigger Iran regime collapse (Israel National News)

• Unclear

  Met Reza Pahlavi in person during 2018, according to the year-end report of the National Union for Democracy in Iran.

  December 2018 · NUFDI 2018 Executive Summary

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Votes for sanctions and pressure, against any deal that keeps the regime alive, and against pulling American forces out of the fight.

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 89) key vote, counts double

  Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities with Iran. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  24 September 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 181)

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  30 July 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 86) key vote, counts double

  Directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, except forces needed to defend the United States or an ally from imminent attack, unless Congress authorizes force. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  23 June 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 185)

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  19 May 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 163)

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  13 May 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 123)

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  15 April 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 118)

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  18 March 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution (S.J.Res. 104) key vote, counts double

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that Congress has not authorized. A vote for the resolution is a vote to pull US forces out of the fight against the Islamic Republic.

  4 March 2026 · the official record

• With

  Voted Nay: Iran war powers resolution after the June 2025 strikes (S.J.Res. 59) key vote, counts double

  Would have directed the President to remove US forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran unless Congress authorized them. It came days after the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. A vote for it is a vote to tie the President's hands against the regime.

  27 June 2025 · the official record

• With

  Cosponsored: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025

  Senate version. Sanctions any foreign company, port, refinery or ship that helps process, export or sell Iranian oil and gas. It goes after the oil money that keeps the regime alive.

  12 February 2025 · the official record

• With

  Voted Yea: Cruz motion on H.R. 4521: keep terrorism sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and the IRGC

  Tells Senate negotiators on the China competition bill to insist on language about limiting cooperation between China and Iran through the terrorism sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It backs keeping terrorism sanctions on the regime's bank and its main armed force.

  4 May 2022 · the official record

• With

  Voted Yea: Lankford motion on H.R. 4521: no nuclear deal that lifts IRGC sanctions

  Tells Senate negotiators to insist that any nuclear deal with Iran also covers its missiles, terrorism and sanctions evasion, does not lift sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and does not remove its terrorist designation. It opposes a nuclear deal that gives the regime sanctions relief.

  4 May 2022 · the official record

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Backs the people in the streets: sanctions on those who kill them, an open internet when the regime cuts it, and Congress on record on their side.

• With

  Cosponsored: Condemning the Government of Iran for its suppression of the right of Iranians to peacefully assemble

  Condemns the regime's killing of protesters and bystanders, commends the courage of the Iranian people, and calls for free and fair elections. It puts senators on record with the Iranian people during the uprising.

  11 February 2026 · the official record

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The MEK is an exile group led by Maryam Rajavi that fought beside Saddam Hussein against Iran. Signing one of its resolutions in Congress, or speaking at its events, is a tie.

• Tie

  Cosponsored: Protecting the residents of Ashraf-3 in Albania (S.Res. 145)

  Says the Iranian exiles at Ashraf-3, the MEK's camp in Albania, must be free to carry on political activity there, and cites support for "Mrs. Maryam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan for the Future of Iran". Ashraf-3 is the MEK's camp, and the text holds up Maryam Rajavi's plan as the future of Iran. So signing it counts as a tie to the MEK.

  27 March 2025 · the official record

• Tie

  Spoke at the December 2024 Senate luncheon addressed by Rajavi and promised a return to maximum pressure on Tehran.

  Bullies and tyrants do not respect weakness, but they only respect strength.

  11 December 2024 · U.S. Senators and Generals Advocate for Regime Change in Iran at Senate Gathering (NCRI)

• Tie

  Sent a message to the NCRI's Free Iran 2024 World Summit and said he co-sponsored the Senate resolution on the MEK camp Ashraf 3.

  This is why I was proud to co-sponsor a resolution calling for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Ashraf 3.

  29 June 2024 · Free Iran 2024 World Summit: Onward to a Democratic Republic (NCRI)

• Tie

  Cosponsored: Protecting the residents of Ashraf-3 in Albania (S.Res. 599)

  Says the Iranian exiles at Ashraf-3, the MEK's camp in Albania, must be free to carry on political activity there, and cites support for "Mrs. Maryam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan for the Future of Iran". Ashraf-3 is the MEK's camp, and the text holds up Maryam Rajavi's plan as the future of Iran. So signing it counts as a tie to the MEK.

  20 March 2024 · the official record

• Tie

  Sent a message to the NCRI's Free Iran 2021 World Summit calling for the collapse of the regime.

  When we’re talking about the future of Iran it is my belief that we need to collapse the regime.

  10 July 2021 · Live Report: Free Iran 2021 World Summit, The Democratic Alternative on the March to Victory (NCRI)

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