CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — While President Donald Trump has conveyed varied viewpoints regarding the potential conclusion of America’s conflict with Iran, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham maintains his full endorsement of continued military intervention.
Sen. Graham, in an interview with Fox News discussing the Iran conflict, stated his expectation for Middle Eastern nations to be transparent in their dealings — an approach he said he would mirror when asking South Carolinians to contribute to the hostilities.
“I’m returning to South Carolina, and I will be requesting that they send their sons and daughters to the Mideast,” Graham declared. “What I want from you in the Mideast, my friends in Saudi Arabia and other regions, is to step forward and declare this fight as your own too.”
ADDITIONAL READING | “Lindsey Graham advocates for increased Saudi Arabian involvement in Iran war.”
Graham’s remarks drew attention from U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who responded in a social media post questioning what would “possess anyone to say this?”
“I am unwilling to commit South Carolina’s young men and women to a conflict with Iran,” Mace subsequently added in a separate post.
On Tuesday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed the public that it would be the “most intense day of strikes inside Iran” since the conflict’s onset.
Hegseth’s declaration came shortly after he noted that “the last 24 hours have seen Iran launch the lowest number of missiles yet.”
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced at the same news conference that the U.S. military was entering the eleventh day of its operation against Iran.
Hegseth, who last week suggested the conflict might last between three and eight weeks, also stated it was up to Trump to evaluate whether the U.S. was moving toward the “beginning, middle or end” of the situation. Estimates indicate that approximately 1,300 people have died from U.S. airstrikes and Israeli attacks in Iran. Iran’s strikes across the Middle East are estimated to have caused at least 30 fatalities.
State media reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in almost 500 deaths in Lebanon.
FURTHER READING | “‘We are moving across the globe;’ Graham persists in advocating for greater U.S. international involvement.”
In an interview with The New York Post, President Trump said he is “nowhere near” ordering U.S. troops into Iran. He also downplayed a potential operation to retrieve highly enriched uranium from an underground facility near Isfahan, despite several news reports mentioning it as an option.
“We haven’t finalized any decision on that,” Trump stated. “We’re nowhere near it.”
Despite Trump’s noncommittal statements, Graham remains resolute in his unwavering support for regime change in Iran, which recently elected a new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
“Our commander-in-chief possesses clear insight,” Graham affirmed. “He attempted diplomacy. He sought to grant them their stated desires. They rejected us outright. Therefore, President Trump, not only did you act appropriately, but you did so precisely when it mattered most.”