In an interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee cited a biblical claim and said Israel has a "biblical right" to control the entire Middle East, adding, "It would be fine if they took it all." His remarks drew widespread backlash. Foreign ministries from multiple Middle Eastern and Asian countries, along with several regional organizations, issued a joint statement condemning the comments. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also criticized the remarks, calling them evidence of U.S. complicity in Israel's expansionist policies.