Historian Victor Davis Hanson called out critics of the newly signed U.S.-Iran preliminary agreement, arguing that they are misreading American leverage in negotiations.

Hanson’s Argument

Speaking on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ Hanson disputed what he described as misconceptions about the deal and said the military conflict dismantled Iran’s infrastructure, leaving Tehran with no cards to play.

‘They’ve suffered probably a half a trillion dollars to their nuclear military industrial complex that took them 50 years to build,’ Hanson said in response to what he called ‘unhinged’ arguments that Iran is better off now than before the conflict.

Hanson also pushed back against critics who have cited difficulties moving oil out of the region due to Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

‘They keep saying, ‘Well, the strait was open before, and now it was closed, and now we had to negotiate to get it open.’ It was only open because they chose not to cause trouble,’ he said.

Hanson argued that sanctions on Iran and its oil distribution efforts have put pressure on the Middle Eastern nation and given the U.S. leverage.

‘They think time is on Iran’s side. Time is not on Iran’s side,’ Hanson said, referencing the burden imposed by sanctions.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.