Lindsey Graham backs Trump's navy blockade, calls Iran a 'terrorist regime'

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday praised President Donald Trump for keeping the complete U.S. Navy blockade of Iran in place. Graham claimed that the blockade was crushing Iran's economy, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had grown desperate because of it. Likening the Iranian regime to Al-Qaeda, Graham went on to request that the President maintain a hard line on the nuclear negotiations as well, and not cut Tehran a deal like the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 

In a post on X post, the South Carolina Republican argued that the "brilliant blockade" was working and the recent exertion of force by the IRGC on vessels passing through the strait was a "sign of desperation." He went on to call upon Trump, saying, "Mr. President: take control of the Strait of Hormuz and keep the blockade in place," claiming that it would "truly" hand him "all the cards" in the negotiations. 

Graham went on to urge the President to maintain a hard line on the nuclear enrichment negotiations as well, alleging the Iranian regime was no better than a terrorist organization. "As to enrichment, if you thought it would be a bad idea to recognize that al Qaeda has a right to enrich even with a moratorium, you'd be right. The Iranian regime and al Qaeda are no different. They have the same goals," Graham sadi. He then called Tehran a "terrorist regime," accusing it of having American blood on its hands. "They cheat and lie. No JCPOA-like deal on President Trump’s watch," he concluded. 

Days earlier, in an interview with Fox News, Graham elaborated his stance, accusing Iran of cheating for decades. He had shared the same thoughts, claiming Tehran had no right to enrich and it should hand over all nuclear dust to the U.S. "We don't want a peace in our time moment with people you can't trust," he told the host, Sean Hannity. He added that he doesn't see Tehran getting the right to enrich ever in the future or the capability to hold the world hostage again, by controlling the Strait of Hormuz, ever again. 

Graham's remarks on X came hours after Trump issued renewed threats of bombing "every power plant" and "every bridge" in Iran if Tehran refused to accept a deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of breaking the ceasefire agreement by firing at ships that sought passage through the strait. He then vaguely announced that Washington will be sending U.S. representatives to Islamabad, Pakistan, to kick off the second round of negotiations on Monday evening. Meanwhile, Iran's state media reported that no decision had been made by Tehran to send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan as long as the U.S. keeps the naval blockade in place, Al Jazeera reported. "The Iranian team has stressed that as long as Trump's announcement of a naval blockade against Iran remains in effect, there will be no negotiations," a correspondent of Iran's Tasnim ⁠News Agency said, as per the publication.