Congressman Ron Paul says rival White House hopeful Rick Santorum has his history wrong on Iran, arguing that the United States has been at war with Iran since it helped orchestrate regime change in the 1950s.

Paul and Santorum clashed during Thursday's debate over Iran's nuclear ambitions and its threats to the United States. Paul says Santorum engages in "war propaganda." Santorum says Paul is "obviously not seeing clearly" on the subject and does not understand the threats to the country from Islamic militants.

Paul, a tea party favorite who opposes U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, says the United States is agitating in that region without reason. Santorum, the former No. 3 Republican in the Senate, says Iran is responsible for U.S. deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.