'Iran's Mischief Needs To Come To An End': Lindsey Graham Weighs In On Hezbollah, Middle East Strife

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At a press briefing on Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke about Iran and Hezbollah.

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Transcript

00:00I have spoken to the Biden administration about the need to reset.

00:18I can't say that we have complete agreement, but there is an understanding that Iran's

00:24mischief needs to come to an end, and that they're running wild, and it is now time to

00:30hold them more accountable, not less.

00:33And this idea of a massive response by Hezbollah against Israel, we need to change that dynamic

00:44and let Iran know that you cannot use those proxies in Lebanon without it facing reprisals

00:49in Iran itself.

00:51And I think I have many Republican colleagues with me, hopefully some Democratic colleagues.

00:57Why am I saying this?

00:58Because I think if we don't do something decisive now, it's going to get far worse quick.

01:02Yeah.

01:03Do you see the conflict with either Iran or Hezbollah requiring human-to-human ratioing?

01:10No, not by us.

01:11Have you spoken to the former president about this idea?

01:12Is he supportive if he were to be in the White House?

01:13I mean, does he need Congress's authority?

01:14I would argue that Article 2 powers probably are sufficient, but I am trying to get the

01:28Congress on record.

01:30Where are we as a body?

01:32I mean, you know, the question is, do you support using military force if that's required

01:37to stop a nuclear breakout by Iran?

01:40The answer for me is yes.

01:42And I think every member of Congress should be asked that question and vote accordingly.

01:47Because if you allow the breakout of Iran, where they acquire nuclear capability that

01:53can be delivered against Israel and others, you're going to open up Pandora's box in the

01:57Mideast.

01:59Those of us in my business have to do more than criticize or cheer from the sidelines.

02:06I'm trying to get Congress in the game.

02:08What am I trying to do?

02:09I'm trying to get Congress to state policies that will resonate in Tehran, that will resonate

02:16in the Mideast, that the Arabs will see us as a better ally.

02:19You asked a very good question.

02:21I think if America took a stronger stance against Iran, the peace deal is more likely,

02:26not less.

02:27I think the Abraham Accords were a result of being strong against the great Satan, Iran.

02:34And I think our policies have undercut the idea that we're going to hold Iran accountable

02:40for all their misadventures, and people are less likely to align with the United States.

02:45You had 12 kids killed playing soccer.

02:50That needs to stop.

02:52And the rockets used came from Iran.

02:54All the money, all the equipment used to attack Israel on October the 7th, all that came from

03:00Iran.

03:01So I consider Iran responsible for all of these events, and going forward, I want the

03:08Iranians to know if Israel decides to hit one of your refineries because you've unleashed

03:15Hezbollah to open up another front against the Jewish state, I think that would be the

03:19right thing for Israel to do.

'Iran's Mischief Needs To Come To An End': Lindsey Graham Weighs In On Hezbollah, Middle East Strife

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