US Senator Ted Cruz faces backlash for not knowing basic facts about Iran

A series of clips from an interview between prominent US conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson and US Senator Ted Cruz have gone viral, igniting controversy over the senator’s foreign policy positions and apparent gaps in basic geopolitical knowledge about Iran.

The full conversation, released on Wednesday on The Tucker Carlson Show, showcases rising tensions within Trump's right-wing base over the US role in the Middle East, particularly regarding Israel, Iran, and the possibility of wider war. 

The rift within Republicans has seen Trump's "Make America Great Again" base, or "America Firsters", generally opposing the US being dragged into another war in the Middle East. The hawks within his base and his administration have been pushing the US into greater involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.

In a striking exchange, Carlson and Cruz engaged in a heated argument over US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, with voices raised as they shouted over each other.

Read more: US Senator Ted Cruz faces backlash for not knowing basic facts about Iran