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Historian Victor Davis Hanson called out critics of the newly signed U.S.-Iran preliminary agreement, arguing that they are misreading American leverage in negotiations.
Speaking on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Hanson disputed what he described as misconceptions about the deal and said the military conflict dismantled Iran’s infrastructure, leaving Tehran with no cards to play.
“They’ve suffered probably a half a trillion dollars to their nuclear military industrial complex that took them 50 years to build,” Hanson said in response to what he called “unhinged” arguments that Iran is better off now than before the conflict.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a proclamation signing in the Oval Office of the White House on June 11, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Trump administration’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran was released this week, laying out the terms of the deal reached by both parties for a 60-day ceasefire and a framework for negotiations.
The deal itself has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with critics arguing that it does not include aspects like an immediate dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure or the removal of enriched uranium stockpiles.
Hanson also pushed back against critics who have cited difficulties moving oil out of the region due to Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
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“They keep saying, ‘Well, the strait was open before, and now it was closed, and now we had to negotiate to get it open.’ It was only open because they chose not to cause trouble,” he said.
“They chose to not cause trouble because the last seven presidents said, ‘We don’t dare touch you. We’re not [going to] interfere with your nuclear programs.'”
Hanson argued that sanctions on Iran and its oil distribution efforts have put pressure on the Middle Eastern nation and given the U.S. leverage.
“They think time is on Iran’s side. Time is not on Iran’s side,” Hanson said, referencing the burden imposed by sanctions.
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President Donald Trump departs the White House following a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room on June 18, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
He suggested that Tehran is concerned about America’s upcoming midterm elections and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Hanson argued that if the conflict goes past the midterms, Trump will be less constrained by electoral considerations.
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“They are terrified that if he wins the midterms and the price of gas goes down, he’s got a free hand, and he already has a free hand now,” Hanson said.
“They are afraid that Donald Trump is [going to] drag it out because if he drags it out after the midterm, after the 250th anniversary, he’s [going to] have a lot more options than he does now when he’s worried about gas and the midterm. So the dynamic is all upside down. They are the ones that have the time clock.”
