Historian and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Victor Davis Hanson, has expressed concern that a key question regarding the conflict in Iran is how rapidly the nation could restore its military strength with support from foreign allies.
Hanson shared his views in an interview on Fox News on Sunday, March 15, 2026, while evaluating potential resolutions for the current war between the United States and its regional allies.
The historian pointed out that even with considerable damage to Iran’s military setup during the conflict, the ultimate strategic situation is unclear because international powers might assist Tehran in recovering its strength.
“The issue is that we are unaware of how swiftly they might rearm with help from China, North Korea, and Russia,” Hanson remarked, highlighting the possible scenario of Iran rebuilding its armed forces aided by those countries.
Hanson indicated that such partnerships could hinder the aim of keeping Iran weakened following the war, especially if the nation obtains military innovations, weapon systems, or technical assistance from these allies.
Iran has different levels of military and strategic collaboration with nations like Russia and North Korea, which includes missile development and defense technology sharing. Additionally, China has played a significant role in Iran’s economy, especially in energy, by buying large amounts of Iranian oil and fostering wider strategic relationships.
Hanson’s concerns illustrate a larger discussion among policymakers and experts regarding the long-lasting impacts of the war, specifically whether military defeats will be enough to stop Iran from rebuilding its forces or restarting strategic initiatives later......…