As a six-week cease-fire takes hold in Gaza, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, is urging decisive military action against Iran.

Graham has identified Tehran’s nuclear program as the primary target, warning that the country has become a “de facto nuclear threshold state.” He remains unconvinced that diplomacy can prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear ambitions.

“There’s a one in trillion chance you’ll degrade the Iranian nuclear program through diplomacy,” Graham told Margaret Brennan during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation. “There’s a 90% chance you’ll degrade it through military action by Israel, supported by the United States. So the next topic I will be engaging in with President Trump is to take this moment in time to decimate the Iran nuclear program because they’re so exposed.”

Graham pointed to Israel’s recent military actions, including its campaigns against Hamas in Gaza, operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, and an October 2024 strike on Iranian military facilities, as evidence of Iran’s weakened position.

During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and implemented a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign aimed at crippling Tehran’s ability to pursue nuclear weapons. This approach is set to return under Trump’s new administration, but some experts worry it may no longer be sufficient to stop Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal.

Graham has consistently advocated for taking strong measures against Iran, particularly given its support for Hamas, a key Iranian proxy involved in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“This is a religious Nazi regime,” Graham stated during his interview with Brennan. “They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to purify Islam and drive us out of the Mideast. It would be like negotiating with Hitler. I am hoping there will be an effort by Israel to decimate the Iran nuclear program supported by the United States, and, if we don’t do that, it will be a historical mistake.”

The senator also joined other Republican voices commending Trump for his role in securing the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the former president’s influence in the negotiations.

“Let me just say this: These people would not be coming out if Donald Trump had not demanded they be out,” Graham remarked.

{Matzav.com}