Israel-First GOP Senator Lindsey Graham has called for President Trump to order additional military strikes targeting Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure, claiming such actions would “hurt them more” and prevent the nuclear ambitions of the Iranian regime.
In an interview with Meet the Press host Kristin Welker, Graham stated that he would be willing to “give up” both houses of Congress if it meant ensuring Iran never acquired nuclear weapons. He also described President Trump as comparable to Winston Churchill, citing the former’s recent focus on preventing a nuclear-armed Iran at the expense of American economic concerns.
When asked whether Trump should restart military operations against Iran, Graham asserted that Iran cannot and will not negotiate with the United States. “Because I believe Iran wants to destroy Israel,” he said, “I want to ‘hurt them more.’” He further claimed that closing the Strait of Hormuz — which remained open before U.S.-Israeli military action — would strengthen Iran over time.
Graham’s analysis, he argued, shows that the Iranian regime has not changed in its goals: to “terrorize the world, destroy Israel, come after us.” He insisted that the next step is to weaken the regime further, identifying energy infrastructure as Iran’s “soft underbelly” and emphasizing that military action should target this sector.
When pressed by Welker on whether he supports strikes on energy infrastructure, Graham confirmed: “Yeah, I’m calling to hurt this regime.” He added that repeating past tactics would yield the same result but warned that hurting Iran more could lead to negotiations. Graham claimed Iran is currently “playing games” and “waiting us out.”
Graham also stated that he does not believe Iran will retaliate in kind or that attacking civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime.
In reference to President Trump’s recent remarks, where the president said he “doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation,” Graham labeled this his “Churchill moment.” He drew parallels between Trump and Churchill, stating: “I believe Iran wants the nuclear weapon. They would use it … They would destroy the Jewish state.”
When asked whether it was worth losing the midterms to achieve a non-nuclear Iran, Graham replied that it’s worth “losing my job.” When pressed on giving up his Senate seat, he said: “I would give up — politically, the most important thing I can do with the job I’ve been given is to protect the American people.”
Graham also noted that he visits Israel every two weeks and has publicly stated, “I’m with Israel … until our dying day.” He told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he urges Americans in South Carolina to send their sons and daughters to fight in the Middle East.
On military strategy, Graham advised President Trump to take Kharg Island — Iran’s primary petroleum hub — stating: “Keep it up for a few more weeks, take Kharg Island, where all of the resources they have to produce oil [are], control that island, let this regime die on the vine.”
When questioned by Fox News journalist Shannon Bream about the feasibility of such an operation, Graham defended his stance, noting two Marine Expeditionary Units were already en route and citing Iwo Jima as proof of U.S. military capability: “We did Iwo Jima. We can do this.”