Joe Rogan: “Iran’s a real enemy.” Theo Von: “Are they an enemy to America?” Joe Rogan: “Well, they’re the largest state sponsor of terrorism… They want a global caliphate. They’re radicals.” ❌ FACT CHECK: That’s false. Iran’s goals center on national sovereignty, and they have sought to project influence regionally through allied governments and forces (Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthi, Iraqi militias, etc.), what’s often called the “Axis of Resistance.” Their goals do not include establishing any kind of caliphate. A caliphate is a specifically Sunni political-theological concept rooted in succession to the Prophet Muhammad. Iran is Shia, and the ideological framework of the Islamic Republic – Khomeini’s velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) – is a distinctly Shia doctrine with no ambition to govern Sunni Muslims. Iran and Sunni jihadist movements like ISIS, which did pursue a caliphate, are actually adversaries. @joerogan | @TheoVon
