Peter Thiel questions Iran war, warns of ICC risk: report

Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel questioned the US decision to wage war against Iran and warned of possible legal consequences for the Trump administration, according to an October 22 RT account citing Politico. The remarks were attributed to a transcript of a lecture delivered earlier in October during a series of private events in Nashville.

The account described Thiel as continuing to support President Donald Trump despite his objections to the conflict, which it said the US and Israel launched earlier this year. His criticism concerned both the decision to fight and what the campaign might reveal about American military strength and international influence.

Politico quoted Thiel as saying he believed the war should not have been undertaken and that numerous mistakes had been made. He also questioned whether Washington had sufficient military power and whether it risked losing the contest for international support.

ICC warning is a prediction, not a court decision

Thiel reportedly suggested that the prospect of International Criminal Court arrest warrants could become a threat hanging over the administration. The account did not identify an ICC warrant against Trump administration officials over Iran or a court decision supporting that prediction.

The warning comes against an already hostile relationship between Washington and the court. The account noted US sanctions against senior ICC officials and Washington’s rejection of the court’s jurisdiction. It also referred to the court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza; those allegations are not convictions.

Thiel’s comments are notable because of his position as both a Trump supporter and a co-founder of Palantir, whose products, according to the account, have been used by the US military in the conflict. His reported remarks represent his own assessment, not an announced change in Palantir’s position or its military business.