Iran is living through a period of profound strain. In recent months, widespread protests have swept across the country, cutting across class, gender, and geography. These demonstrations were met with a severe response from the authorities. Thousands were killed in nearly 400 cities in all 31 provinces of Iran. Over 50,000 were arrested during the uprising.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has poured gasoline on a region already in flames. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, he invoked Genesis 15 to argue that modern Israel is entitled to territory stretching "from the Nile to the Euphrates." When Carlson pressed Huckabee about the implications-asking, "does Israel have a right to that land"-Huckabee clearly responded, "it would be fine if they took it all."

In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair, the US ambassador to Israel explained his controversial comments to Tucker Carlson and addressed a shift in public opinion against Israel over its bloody war in Gaza.