Denying Iran’s atomic ambitions, Tucker Carlson clashes with pro-Israel conservatives

“Antisemitic and dangerous” – Republican leader in Israel slams ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s scathing attack on conservative pundit Mark Levin.

By World Israel News Staff

Right-wing commentator and independent podcaster Tucker Carlson castigated Fox News host Mark Levin on Wednesday, denying Iran’s nuclear ambitions and escalating an ongoing feud with his former colleague while sparking criticism and allegations of antisemitism.

In a lengthy post to his X/Twitter account, Carlson, who hosted “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News until his termination in 2023, accused Levin and others who have called for military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities of lying about the Islamic Republic’s atomic capabilities and its intentions.

“Mark Levin was at the White House today, lobbying for war with Iran,” Carlson said.

“To be clear, Levin has no plans to fight in this or any other war. He’s demanding that American troops do it. We need to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons, he and likeminded ideologues in Washington are now arguing. They’re just weeks away.”

“It’s a lie. In fact, there is zero credible intelligence that suggests Iran is anywhere near building a bomb or has plans to. None. Anyone who claims otherwise is ignorant or dishonest. If the US government knew Iran was weeks from possessing a nuclear weapon, we’d be at war already.”

Carlson went on to defend Iran’s “weapons program,” claiming it is maintained for self-defense.

“Iran also knows it’s unwise to give up its weapons program entirely. [Late Libyan leader] Muammar Gaddafi tried that and wound up sodomized with a bayonet. As soon as Gaddafi disarmed, NATO killed him. Iran’s leaders saw that happen.”

Strikes on Iran, Carlson continued, would likely spark a world war between the U.S. on one side and a broad coalition of Iranian-aligned powers on the other, including Russia, China, and Brazil.

“An attack on Iran could very easily become a world war. We’d lose,” he said.

“People like Mark Levin don’t seem to care about this. It’s not relevant to them. Instead, they insist that Iran give up all uranium enrichment, regardless of its purpose.”

Carlson wrote off criticism of his comments, including allegations of antisemitism, as cynical ploys, while referencing President Donald Trump’s Jewish envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

“They denounce anyone who advocates for a deal as a traitor and a bigot. They tell us with a straight face that Long Island native Steve Witkoff is a secret tool of Islamic monarchies. They’ll say or do whatever it takes. They have no limits. These are scary people. Pray that Donald Trump ignores them.”

Carlson’s comments came just days after the International Atomic Energy Agency published a damning report on Iran’s nuclear program, accusing Tehran of conducting secret atomic activities with materials it had not declared to the IAEA.

While Iran has long claimed its atomic program is purely peaceful in nature, the IAEA report states that the Iranian nuclear program has enriched 42 kilograms of uranium to 60% purity – far beyond the 20% needed for civilian energy production. Once enriched to 90% purity, Iran’s stockpile could provide enough fissile material for nine nuclear weapons.

Levin and Carlson, both Trump supporters, have feuded over the past few weeks over the issue of U.S. policy vis-à-vis Iran since Levin’s appointment by Trump to the Homeland Security Advisory Council in April. The row began after Levin criticized Witkoff’s use of the term “neocons” during an interview on May 9.

“By the way, neocon is a pejorative for Jew. Unbelievable,” Levin tweeted.

On his podcast, Carlson called Levin’s comments “peak crazy.”

“If Mark Levin is calling the Trump administration antisemitic, Steve Witkoff, we’re at the end of something and the beginning of something new.”

Following Carlson’s X post, attorney Marc Zell, chairman of the Republicans Overseas Israel organization, blasted the “right-wing isolationist journalist,” calling his comments “antisemitic and dangerous.”

Carlson’s criticism of Levin “included antisemitic hints and a call for President Trump to ignore his pro-Israel advisors,” Zell said in a statement.

“Tucker Carlson repeats dangerous Iranian propaganda and ignores basic facts about the Iranian nuclear threat.”

Zell took Carlson to task for his claim that no credible reports suggested Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, noting the latest IAEA report.

“When asked why Iran has enriched uranium stocks of over 60% and why Iran has sent agents to assassinate President Trump – Carlson remains silent. Iran currently holds enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear bombs, and this regime funds Islamist terrorism against its moderate Muslim neighbors, against American targets, and against Israel and Jews worldwide. Anyone who denies this reality is either spreading Iranian propaganda or simply doesn’t understand Middle East realities.”

Carlson, Zell continued, represents “an extremist isolationist wing in the Republican Party that prefers to ignore the Iranian threat to avoid being drawn into international confrontations.

“When Carlson says about Mark Levin ‘people like him won’t fight in this war’ – this is classic antisemitic innuendo. Jews are frontline fighters in the U.S. military and the IDF, and we won’t allow anyone to claim otherwise. American Jews contribute to U.S. security more than any other group relative to their size. Carlson knows this, but he chooses political Jew-hatred to advance his isolationist agenda.”