Full Breakdown
Peter Thiel Says the United States Should Not Have Started the War with Iran
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Thiel’s Public Disapproval
During a private lecture series in Nashville in mid-October, billionaire investor Peter Thiel told an audience that he is “skeptical of [the war]” and believes the United States “should not have done it.” Audio recordings of the remarks were obtained by Politico.
Background & Context
The U.S. military campaign in Iran began in February, marking the latest escalation in a series of Middle-East operations launched under the Trump administration. The conflict has coincided with a surge in global energy costs, pushing gasoline prices above $4 per gallon and raising concerns about broader inflationary pressures on food, apparel, and other consumer goods. The timing of Thiel’s comments comes less than two weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, a period marked by heightened economic anxiety among voters.
Official Statements & Responses
Thiel, a longtime supporter of former President Donald Trump who donated $1.25 million to the 2016 campaign, used the lecture to distance himself from neoconservative hawks. He cited a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting Netanyahu’s remark that he “can’t just Dresden-ize it,” a reference to the World War II bombing of Dresden. Thiel’s remarks constitute one of the most prominent criticisms of the Iran operation from a close Trump ally.
Data & Statistics
- Gasoline prices have risen to over $4 per gallon amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
- Smoke rose after a strike on Tehran on March 3, illustrating the conflict’s immediate impact on the Iranian capital.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m skeptical of [the war], I think we should not have done it,” — Peter Thiel, billionaire investor
- “I read the Cheney family’s Trump derangement syndrome as an attempt to buy favor with the [International Criminal Court] and avoid prosecution. Probably too late,” — Peter Thiel, billionaire investor