Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has called for a regime change in Iran, saying President Donald Trump should go “all in” to help Israel combat Iran’s nuclear threat.

Why It Matters

Israel on Friday launched attacks against Iran’s capital city of Tehran in what it called a “preemptive strike” and warned its citizens of retaliatory bombings from Iran.

Military tensions between the two countries have rapidly escalated in the days since; 224 people in Iran have died as a result of Israel’s attacks on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, while 24 people in Israel have died and at least 500 were injured from Iran’s retaliatory strikes.

Newsweek reached out to the White House Monday night for comment.

What To Know

While speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday night on the strikes, Graham said, in part, “So here is the task at hand. Be all in, President Trump, in helping Israel eliminate the nuclear threat. If we need to provide bombs to Israel, provide bombs. If we need to fly planes with Israel, do joint operations. But here’s the bigger question, wouldn’t the world be better off if the Ayatollahs went away and replaced by something better? Wouldn’t Iran be better off?”

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Graham also said, “No one can say that President @realDonaldTrump has not tried to seek peace regarding Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Iran. He has gone the extra mile and I appreciate that. However, you have to have willing partners to make peace. Iran played the same old game with the wrong guy. God bless Israel, God bless the United States and God bless President Trump.”

Israel launched its strikes against Iran after the U.S. appeared to reach an impasse in its nuclear talks with Tehran and the country’s defense minister, General Aziz Nasirzadeh, warned that Iran could attack American bases if talks broke down entirely or if hostilities continued to mount.

The U.S. has been closely monitoring since the air assaults began, with multiple officials saying American forces are in a “defensive” posture should tensions escalate further.

In another indication of the delicate situation in the Middle East, Trump announced Monday that he would cut his trip to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada short, saying he had to “be back early” in Washington, D.C., “for obvious reasons.”

Multiple media outlets including Fox News and CNN reported that Trump has convened a meeting of the National Security Council in the Situation Room upon his return to the White House.

What People Are Saying

Republican Representative Chip Roy of Texas wrote on X: “Strategic limited support for Israel’s targeting & denial of Iranian nukes = good. Effort for ground troops, regime change, soccer fields, supplemental funding, or endless war garbage of the last 25 years = bad. It hasn’t been done right for a long time. Let’s get it right.”

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky wrote on X: “This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement. I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.”

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most progressive members of Congress, shared Massie’s post on X and wrote: “Signing on.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, wrote on X: “Tonight, I introduced legislation to stop Trump from leading us into an illegal war with Iran. Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars, and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement.”

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.

Update 6/16/25, 10:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

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