Sen. Lindsey Graham is calling for escalated U.S. military action against Iran, warning that the current standoff is damaging American interests and global stability. The South Carolina Republican told NBC News on Sunday that prolonged negotiations and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are strengthening Iran's hand while weakening the U.S. position.
"The status quo is hurting us all," Graham said. "The longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed, the more we try to pursue a deal that never happens, the stronger Iran gets." He urged President Trump to intensify military pressure, saying the administration has done solid work but more targets remain.
The senator expressed skepticism about the current Iranian regime's intentions. "There's nothing to suggest that the people in charge now are any different in terms of the regime's goal to terrorize the world, destroy Israel, come after us," Graham said.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments, has sent crude prices surging and pushed American gas prices up 51% since military operations began more than two months ago. Graham suggested one remedy: containing Iran's regional power. "Gas prices will come down when you put Iran in a box," he told moderators on NBC.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled. Last Friday, Iran's foreign minister declared that his government has "no trust" in American negotiators, further dimming prospects for a quick resolution.
Trump, returning from a multi-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, downplayed the likelihood of Beijing's involvement. He told Fox News he did not request Chinese assistance but acknowledged Xi's willingness to help. "If he wants help, that's great, but we don't need help," Trump said. "When somebody helps you, they always want something on the other side. That's the way help works."
The Iran conflict has emerged as a potential liability for Republicans heading into midterm elections. Trump last week acknowledged that his administration's Iran policy would likely damage GOP polling numbers. "I said to my people, I hate to do this to you, but I'm going to screw up your numbers for a little while, because we have to stop the nuclear weapon stuff with Iran," he told Fox News.
The president also faced questions about his reported comment that he was considering Americans' financial situations "not even a little bit" when making Iran decisions. Graham, however, showed no hesitation about prioritizing the Iran issue over electoral concerns. "It's worth losing my job if I had to give my job up to make sure Iran would never have a nuclear weapon," Graham told moderators.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Graham's willingness to sacrifice electoral prospects for military escalation shows how completely the Iran conflict has consumed Republican strategy, but the question remains whether Americans will accept higher gas prices for an indefinite standoff."
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