Peter Thiel Criticizes US War With Iran

Technology investor and Republican donor Peter Thiel criticized the United States' decision to engage in war with Iran during a private lecture on October 12 in Nashville. Thiel stated that the U.S. "should not have done it" and asserted that "a lot of mistakes" were made during the conflict.

Thiel suggested the United States might lack the necessary hard power to succeed and warned that the country could lose the "soft power war." He specifically highlighted the legal risks facing the Trump administration, describing the threat of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant as a "sword of Damocles" hanging over the government as it prosecutes the war.

Despite these criticisms of foreign policy, Thiel maintained his support for President Donald Trump. The remarks, delivered shortly before the midterm elections, signal a rift between the president and a key ally. The context of the conflict also involved discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told Thiel he could not "Dresdenize" Gaza.