Prime Minister Orbán described the war in Iran as a consequence of a new world order in which major powers once again act openly on the basis of national interest. In his view, the key question is whether the American intervention will ultimately move the world closer to peace or toward a longer and more dangerous conflict. While he argued that Iran had served as the center of a violent anti-Semitic and anti-freedom network, he also warned about the risks of military escalation.
Drawing on his experience from the Iraq and Afghanistan eras, PM Orbán said that “to go in is easy, but to get out is almost impossible,” stressing that outside powers have repeatedly underestimated the complexity of the region over the years.
The prime minister made clear that his first concern in any international crisis is Hungary. Asked about the consequences of the Iran war, Prime Minister Orbán pointed to two immediate dangers: migration and rising energy prices. He warned that instability in Iran could unleash a new migration wave through Turkey and the Balkans toward Hungary, while a surge in oil prices would directly harm the Hungarian economy, which remains dependent on imported energy. For PM Orbán, this is the core responsibility of a national leader: not to speculate about what global powers should do, but to assess what their decisions mean for one’s own country.
On Europe, Prime Minister Orbán argued that Brussels has made a series of strategic errors. He said European leaders mishandled their relationship with President Trump from the beginning and failed to adapt to a new era in transatlantic politics. He also sharply criticized European sanctions on Russian energy, calling them irrational for a continent so heavily exposed to external energy supplies. In his assessment, Europe weakened itself by turning away from cheap energy while neglecting competitiveness. Now, it risks finding itself in an even more vulnerable position as instability in the Middle East puts further pressure on energy markets.
The prime minister also used the interview to restate his long-held position on the war in Ukraine. He argued that the conflict cannot be understood simply as an isolated Russian attack but must also be seen in the context of a changing European security architecture. According to him, the central strategic question is whether Ukraine is to become part of the West or remain a buffer zone between NATO and Russia. PM Orbán said that trying to integrate Ukraine into Western structures is a path to permanent confrontation, whereas a negotiated settlement based on realities on the ground would offer a more stable future for Europe.
The prime minister was equally blunt about Europe’s broader decline. He praised Europe as the best place in the world to live, citing its beauty, history, and civilizational depth, but warned that the original idea of cooperation among nations is being replaced by overcentralization in Brussels. He argued that Europe has lost direction, competitiveness, and confidence, while Central Europe remains more resilient and rooted in cultural continuity.
Returning to the question of identity, Prime Minister Orbán insisted that Hungary will preserve its Christian cultural foundations and reject policies that blur civilizational boundaries. He said respect for other civilizations does not require giving up one’s own, and argued that cultural self-preservation remains essential for national strength, stability, and security.
You can watch the full interview between Mario Nawfal and PM Orbán HERE