‘Remember the Dictator movie?’ US mocks UN for naming Iran on nuke, women's rights boards

Washington: US Republican and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast sharply criticised the United Nations over Iran's appointment to several UN-related committees, including those linked to nuclear non-proliferation, women’s rights, and counterterrorism, drawing comparisons to a Hollywood satire.

Referring to the situation, Mast said the developments sounded more like fiction than diplomacy, stating, "It was the United Nations that selected Iran to serve on the board of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Have you guys seen the movie with Sasha Baron Cohen? You guys have seen the dictator, right? ‘We are almost complete with enriching uranium for weapons to be used for peaceful purposes.’ Peaceful purposes. Right. I mean, that's what this reads like. It is literally like watching the movie The Dictator. It's beyond crazy. This is the same regime that has lied about its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, hid them from United Nations inspectors for decades and has given direct influence over the world's foremost nuclear treaty."

Mast also criticised Iran’s reported roles in other UN-linked bodies, saying, “The United Nations has given Iran a seat at the table in the committee responsible for shaping UN priorities on women's rights. Who thought of that? The human rights and counterterrorism, right? This the same regime whose idea on women's rights is enforcing physical assault or detention for women who are caught without a hijab.

He further alleged concerns over Iran’s involvement in counterterrorism-related forums, saying, "Iran is on the committee for counterterrorism, and they're the chief operator for Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis... That's the UN's idea of a good idea. Put them on the council for that.”

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democrats at a House panel hearing on Wednesday, fending off accusations of misleading the public on the Iran war and firing senior military officers.

The six-hour hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday to discuss the Trump administration's USD 1.5 trillion defence budget turned into a slanging match between Hegseth, who was facing Congress for the first time since the Iran war broke out on February 28.

Pentagon officials pegged the cost of the Iran war at USD 25 billion, a figure that was viewed with scepticism by a section of the Democratic lawmakers, who questioned Hegseth's competence as defence secretary and sought to know from him whether President Donald Trump was "mentally fit" for the job.

Trump is the "sharpest, most inciteful commander-in-chief we've had in generations", Hegseth hit back and countered whether the Democrats had questioned the competence of former President Joe Biden.

"Did you ask the same question of Joe Biden for four years? You want to ask that question after you and your fellow Democrats defended Joe Biden, who could barely speak and didn't know what day of the week it was," the defence secretary countered.

Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also appeared before the Committee along with Hegseth.

"The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point, are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats, and some Republicans. Your hatred for President Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission," Hegseth said, deviating from the prepared text of his remarks circulated among committee members.

Democrats and some Republicans posed tough questions over the firing of top military officers in the middle of the war, which Hegesth said was necessary to bring in "new leadership" and build a "warrior culture" in the Pentagon.

Republican Nancy Mace defended Hegseth's moves to remove military officers.

"I'm glad that you're firing people. There are people there that are getting in your way. They need to go," the Congresswoman from South Carolina said.

Sparks flew when the California Democrat John Garamendi slammed Hegseth over the "astounding incompetence that had led to political and economic disaster at every level".

"The president has gotten himself and America stuck in a quagmire of another war in the Middle East. He is desperately trying to extricate himself from his own mistakes; it is in America's, and indeed the world's, interest he succeeds in that," Garamendi said.

"Who are you cheering for here? Who are you pulling for? Your hatred for President Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission and the historic stakes that the president is addressing that the American people support," Hegseth hit back.

"You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement," the defence secretary said.

Hegseth repeatedly dodged pointed questions from Democratic lawmakers, calling them "clickbait" moments.

Democratic lawmaker Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger who served during wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, questioned Hegseth about lawyer Tim Parlatore, a Pentagon advisor.

Crow repeatedly asked whether Parlotore had international clients at the same time, advising the Pentagon and Hegseth.

The volley of questions from Crow on Parlotore led Hegseth to describe it as a "political stunt" and a "huge waste of your five minutes".

A member of a House committee gets five minutes to question those appearing before it and yields to other members.

Hegseth is set to appear before the Senate Armed Forces Committee on Thursday.