Socialist streamer Hasan Piker, who recently appeared alongside Democratic Socialists of America national co-chairs to discuss the group’s 2026 political program, said he believes the Middle East would be “more stable” if Iran possessed a nuclear weapon.
Axios correspondent Alex Thompson asked Piker whether Iran should be free to build a nuclear weapon during an interview released this week.
“I think Iran, much like any other sovereign nation, has a right to defend itself, regardless of its domestic policies,” Piker said.
Piker invoked political scientist John Mearsheimer and the theory of mutually assured destruction, arguing that nuclear-armed countries can achieve what he called “true sovereignty.”
Thompson then asked: “Do you think the Middle East would be more stable if Iran had a nuclear weapon?”
“I believe yes. I think that the Middle East would be more stable,” Piker responded.
Piker also qualified his position, saying he did not personally want Iran, the United States, Russia or China to possess nuclear weapons. He said he was “not advocating” for Iran to receive weapons-grade uranium and characterized the nuclear dispute as a “distraction,” arguing that Tehran has used uranium enrichment as leverage to seek U.S. sanctions relief.
DSA’s Iran position
DSA does not list Piker on its elected National Political Committee, which the organization identifies as its primary political leadership. DSA has nevertheless featured him in recent national programming.
DSA’s own publication reported that Piker joined national co-chairs Megan Romer and Ashik Siddique and program drafter Michaela Brangan for a panel on the organization’s Workers Deserve More program at the Socialism 2026 Conference in Chicago. DSA also promoted his appearance through its national newsletter.
The group’s official Workers Deserve More program calls for ending U.S. economic sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the same program proposes sweeping changes to U.S. economic, immigration, criminal justice and foreign policy.
The Dallas Express also previously reported that federal officials served Piker an administrative subpoena in May as part of a Cuba sanctions inquiry. No criminal charges against Piker were reported.
Piker’s comments come during the seventh month of the U.S.-Iran war, in which Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain a central issue. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it cannot currently verify Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60%, which is close to weapons-grade levels. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.
