Conservative Commentator Warns Against Negotiating With Iran

Victor Davis Hanson argues Iran's 'whole currency is lying' and they are 'fanatic ideologues' who cannot be reasoned with.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 6:31am

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In a segment from his 'In His Own Words' show, conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson warns that Iran cannot be negotiated with because 'their whole currency is lying' and they are 'fanatic ideologues' who have a 'supernatural view' of the world. Hanson suggests Iran's strategy was to wait out the Trump administration in hopes of getting a more favorable deal under a future Democratic president. He also discusses the potential domestic political fallout if military action against Iran is taken.

Why it matters

Hanson's comments reflect the hardline stance taken by some conservatives towards Iran, who view the regime as an implacable foe that cannot be reasoned with diplomatically. This view could influence the foreign policy approach of a future Republican administration.

The details

In the interview, Hanson argues that Iran's 'strategy' was to 'ride it out' during the Trump administration, hoping that a future Democratic president like Joe Biden or Kamala Harris would be more willing to negotiate a nuclear deal on Iran's terms. Hanson suggests this strategy would have 'worked' if Trump had 'let him off the hook.' However, Hanson believes military action against Iran's nuclear program may now be necessary, though he cautions that domestic political support will depend on factors like American casualties and the speed and effectiveness of the results.

  • The interview was filmed prior to the start of 'Operation Epic Fury'.

The players

Victor Davis Hanson

A conservative commentator and senior contributor to The Daily Signal.

Jack Fowler

The host who interviewed Victor Davis Hanson.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who Hanson believes Iran was hoping to outlast.

Joe Biden

The current U.S. president who Hanson suggests Iran was hoping would be more willing to negotiate a nuclear deal on Iran's terms.

Kamala Harris

The current U.S. vice president who Hanson suggests Iran was hoping would be more willing to negotiate a nuclear deal on Iran's terms.

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What they’re saying

“No, you can't negotiate with them because their whole currency is lying, and they're fanatic ideologues. And they have a supernatural view of what's going to happen, and they're on the right side of Cosmic Divinity and all of these ideas.”

— Victor Davis Hanson, Conservative Commentator

“I think [former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi] Rafsanjani in a disputed statement, but I think it was accurate, said that Israel was a one bomb state, and that was the advantage that you got half the Jews in the world in one place, where all you needed was one bomb.”

— Victor Davis Hanson, Conservative Commentator

“Their strategy, to tell you, was kind of a Muhammad Ali 'Rope-a-Dope' where they were going to ride it out. And then [President Donald] Trump would be gone in three years, and people would be angry, and you'd get a Joe Biden, or better yet a type of puppet of the Left. But better yet, you would get an [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] or a 'squad' member, or a [Gavin] Newsom or [Kamala] Harris, and then you're home free to get the bomb.”

— Victor Davis Hanson, Conservative Commentator

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Hanson's comments highlight the deep divisions and distrust between the U.S. and Iran, making diplomatic solutions difficult. His warnings about Iran's 'fanatic' ideology and 'supernatural view' suggest that some conservatives see military action as the only viable option to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, despite the potential domestic political fallout.