Conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson flamed U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in a Wednesday interview over Cruz's apparent limited knowledge of Iran amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The tense back-and-forth between the two men began when Carlson asked Cruz what the population of Iran was—prompting an awkward pause and no clear answer.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) sparred with talk show host Tucker Carlson over the Israel-Iran conflict, laying bare the growing rift between different wings of the GOP. In a snippet released Tuesday of the interview,

In an interview that highlighted a rift on the far right over the role of the United States in confronting Iran, the host confronted the senator over his hawkish stance, suggesting he was ill-informed.