Mike Johnson, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, suggested that lying is part of some Iranians' religion while defending President Donald Trump's decision to engage in military action against Iran. During a press conference on September 1, 2026, Johnson praised Trump, stating that the president has 'steady hands at the wheel' despite the unpopularity of the war with Iran among the US public. A recent University of Massachusetts poll indicated that 54 percent of Americans disapprove of US military actions against Iran.
Johnson expressed frustration with Iran, claiming that they cannot be trusted in negotiations. He stated, 'The problem has been – and the reason we’ve been frustrated – is that the Iranians simply cannot be trusted. They’ll sit at a negotiation table and say something. They’ll walk away and do the opposite.' He further commented, 'For some of them, it’s, you know, apparently part of their religion that they can just lie to someone they disagree with.'
Johnson's remarks come amid ongoing military conflict in Iran, which has seen Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global oil and gas prices. The Trump administration has maintained that the war was necessary to address an imminent nuclear threat from Iran. However, this claim has faced scrutiny, particularly following statements from former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, who indicated that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.
Despite the ongoing conflict, which has now lasted over six months, Johnson remains optimistic that US allies will assist in stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, stating, 'Other countries around the world, our NATO allies, the Arab states in the region – they have a bigger stake in that than Americans do.'