Hasan Piker insists Middle East would be 'more stable' if Iran had nuclear weapons during Axios interview

Progressive commentator Hasan Piker is not opposed to Iran having nuclear weapons, according to comments he made in an interview with Axios.

"Do you think Iran should be free to build a nuclear weapon?" Axios correspondent Alex Thompson asked in a clip that aired Thursday on CNN.

"I think Iran, much like any other sovereign nation, has a right to defend itself, regardless of its domestic policies," Piker responded.

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Hasan Piker told Axios he believes the Middle East would be more stable if Iran had nuclear weapons. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The popular Twitch streamer went on to cite political scientist John Mearsheimer in the belief that "mutually assured destruction is the only way for countries to have sovereignty," something he said would bring regional stability.

"Now having said that, do I want Iran to have nuclear arms? No. But I also don't want America, or Russia, or China to have a nuclear arms either," Piker said.

"Do you think the Middle East would be more stable if Iran had a nuclear weapon?" Thompson followed.

"I believe yes. I think that the Middle East would more stable," Piker responded.

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Twitch streamer Hasan Piker appeared on the campaign trail with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

The far-left personality went on to stress that he's not "advocating" for a nuclear-armed Iran or that they should have weapons-grade enriched uranium, but insisted that the nuclear conversation is a "distraction."

"Time and time again, they have shown, the Iranian government, regardless of whether you want to trust them or not, you can just look at their actions, have proven that they are utilizing the conversation of enriched uranium as a point of leverage to bring America back to the table to get sanctions relief," Piker said.

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Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

Piker began generating headlines earlier in the day when he claimed the U.S. is responsible for more terrorism than al-Qaeda "pound for pound."

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Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who campaigned alongside Piker during the primary, has repeatedly been asked about Piker's commentary and has attempted to distance himself from his latest comments, telling Axios "I do not agree with this statement [on al-Qaeda], nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer. I am more concerned with the dangerous policies of Donald Trump and Mike Rogers that are raising the prices of gas, groceries and healthcare for Michiganders."

Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.