In an interview with Tucker Carlson set to be released in full, Senator Ted Cruz was challenged on his knowledge of Iran’s population and its demographic makeup.

Cruz’s admission of not knowing these details sparked a debate over the depth of knowledge needed for effective foreign policy advocacy.

Tucker: How many people live in Iran?

Cruz: I don’t know the population

Tucker: You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?

Cruz: How many people live in Iran?

Tucker: 92 million. How could you not know that?