‘Shahs of Sunset’ star says Iranians back military action despite US critics

"Shahs of Sunset" star Reza Farahan supports U.S. military action against Iran, saying Iranians are 'happy' about strikes. Reality star shares perspective. Entertainment ‘Shahs of Sunset’ star says Iranians back military action despite US critics Reza Farahan, who authored the forthcoming book 'Memoirs of a Gay Shah,' says relatives in Iran are grateful for strikes that could bring regime change after 47 years of oppression By Ashley Hume , Larry Fink Fox News Published March 5, 2026 8:00am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video ‘Shahs of Sunset’ star Reza Farahan says Iranians support U.S.-led military intervention for ‘prospect of freedom’ "Shahs of Sunset" star Reza Farahan told Fox News Digital that his relatives and friends inside Iran are welcoming U.S.- and Israel-led military intervention because they see it as their first real chance at freedom from the Islamic Republic. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! "Shahs of Sunset" star Reza Farahan is speaking out about the United States and Israel's military action against Iran. During an interview with Fox News Digital, the Iranian-born 52-year-old reality star, who authored the forthcoming book "Memoirs of a Gay Shah," explained that he and his family came to America on a family trip in 1977 and ended up staying after unrest in Iran escalated into revolution.During the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the country's former monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown and replaced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established an Islamic Republic that transformed the country into a theocratic state governed by strict religious rule. Last weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets, during which Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military bases in several Middle Eastern states. "Shahs of Sunset" star Reza Farahan explained why he believes Iranians are "happy" about the U.S.-Israeli military action in the Middle Eastern country. (Chelsea Guglielmino/Bravo via Getty Images) The conflict comes on the heels of widespread anti-government protests in Iran that erupted in December 2025 and were met with brutal crackdowns by the government that left thousands dead.During an interview with Fox News Digital, Farahan shared his insight into how Iranians living in the country have reacted to the U.S. and Israel-led strikes. "I’ve spoken to relatives and friends who are in Iran, and I know it’s hard for non-Iranians to understand this, but the Iranians in Iran are so happy that there is military intervention that has come to help rescue them from the Islamic Republic," he said. "I know, especially for people that are anti-our President, they can’t understand why," Farahan continued. "Why are the people in Iran happy? They’re happy because the prospect of freedom is something that they’ve dreamed of for so many years." "I urge the American population to do their own research, keep an open mind, and think about what the Iranians inside of Iran are begging for," he added. Farahan also described the response that he was seeing in the Iranian-American community. "Utter elation and gratitude for the prospect that there could be potential regime change and freedom for people that have been oppressed by a fanatical religious dictator for 47 years," he told Fox News Digital. Farahan starred in all nine seasons of the hit Bravo show. (John Tsiavis/Bravo)According to a recent Fox News poll, American opinion on the U.S. military action against Iran is sharply divided. While 65% of voters see Iran as a serious national security threat, about 50% of those polled approve of the strikes and about 50% disapprove. 'SHAHS OF SUNSET' STAR MERCEDES JAVID TALKS 'ONE-SIDED' REZA FARAHAN FEUD: 'PLEASE HOLD YOUR FIRE'Support and opposition broke down strongly along partisan lines. According to the survey, more than 8 in 10 Republicans approve of the current U.S. use of force, while only 6 in 10 say the president’s actions on Iran are making the U.S. safer.Nearly 8 in 10 Democrats disapprove of the U.S. strikes and think things are less safe because of Trump’s performance, while 6 in 10 or more independents think the same on both counts. Meanwhile, two-thirds of voters said they were generally concerned that Trump’s use of executive orders and acting without Congressional approval may be permanently altering the country’s system of checks and balances. WATCH: ‘SHAHS OF SUNSET’ STAR REZA FARAHAN SAYS IRANIANS SUPPORT U.S.-LED MILITARY INTERVENTION FOR ‘PROSPECT OF FREEDOM’ VideoDuring his interview with Fox News Digital, Farahan addressed critics of the military action, arguing that partisan politics shouldn’t cloud judgment. He also warned that Americans opposing the action may be underestimating the threat posed by the Islamic Republic and the country's primary military branch, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "My message to people criticizing the action in Iran is one: pl