Full Breakdown
U.S. House Speaker Defends Iran War While Casting Tehran as Untrustworthy
9/2/2026, 12:19:54 PM
US House Speaker Defends Iran War and Criticizes Tehran
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson defended President Donald Trump’s decision to join Israel in a war against Iran. He also linked the war’s continuation to the need for stability in the Strait of Hormuz, urging NATO allies and regional Arab states to help keep commerce flowing.
Context of the Conflict
The war began in February when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a move Trump claimed had “obliterated” Tehran’s program. Within days of former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard’s June 2025 remarks that the intelligence community assessed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, the U.S. military bombed three main enrichment sites on June 22, 2025. The conflict has persisted for seven months, extending beyond Trump’s original six-week timeline and keeping the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked, which has driven global oil and gas prices higher.
Data & Public Opinion
A University of Massachusetts poll found that 54 percent of Americans disapprove of U.S. military actions against Iran. The ongoing war has contributed to higher gasoline prices in the United States and has added to overall inflation.
Official Statements & Responses
Tulsi Gabbard, reflecting the intelligence community’s view, said the IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program since its suspension in 2023.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The problem has been – and the reason we’ve been frustrated – is that the Iranians simply cannot be trusted. They’ll sit at a negotiation table and say something. They’ll walk away and do the opposite,” — Mike Johnson
- “The IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2023,” — Tulsi Gabbard
