Johnson defends Iran conflict, cites religious distrust of Tehran
The House Speaker argues that NATO allies and Arab states must assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite a poll showing 54 per cent of Americans disapprove of the military action.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a war on Iran, asserting that the conflict was necessary to address an imminent nuclear threat. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Johnson praised the President’s leadership, describing him as having "steady hands at the wheel" while navigating the increasingly unpopular policies of the Republican administration.
Johnson’s defence of the military action came as he addressed the economic fallout from the conflict, which began in February when the US and Israel attacked Iran. The war has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil and gas prices to soar globally and fueling inflation in the US economy. Although US officials claim that Washington has loosened Tehran’s grip on the waterway, American consumers continue to pay high prices for petrol.
To stabilise markets, Johnson suggested that NATO allies and Arab states should assist in reopening the strait. He argued that these nations have a larger stake in regional commerce than Americans do and are willing to help ensure stability, although they have not yet taken concrete action.
The Speaker also offered a cultural explanation for the breakdown in negotiations, stating that some Iranians view lying as part of their religion. "They’ll sit at a negotiation table and say something. They’ll walk away and do the opposite," Johnson said, noting that this behaviour has made trust difficult to establish. His office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the specific religious references.
Public support for the conflict appears to be waning. A nationwide University of Massachusetts poll released on Monday indicated that 54 per cent of Americans disapprove of US military actions against Iran. The conflict is expected to hurt Republicans’ chances of retaining control of the House and Senate in November’s midterm elections.
The administration’s argument of an imminent nuclear threat has faced scrutiny from within the US government. In June 2025, then-intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard told lawmakers that Iran was not weaponising its nuclear programme. Days later, the US military bombed Iran’s three main enrichment facilities, an attack Trump claimed had "obliterated" the programme.
Despite Trump’s initial promise that the war would last six weeks at most, the conflict entered its seventh month last week with no end in sight. The prolonged engagement has raised questions about the strategic objectives of the US and its allies in the region.
