The U.S. Senate advanced a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Thursday, prompting criticism from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. The measure, which passed with bipartisan support, aims to bolster military and humanitarian efforts in the region. However, Graham’s comments on the ongoing military operation against Iran’s Kharg Island drew sharp backlash from fellow lawmakers and military families. Graham, a Republican, argued that the U.S. should continue the operation to weaken Iran’s regime, comparing the effort to the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. “Take Kharg Island, where all of the resources they have to produce oil are,” he told Fox News, urging President Trump to “let this regime die on a vine.” He emphasized the importance of controlling the island, which serves as a key oil hub for Iran, and praised the Marines’ role in the operation. “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this,” he said, despite acknowledging the high cost of the mission. At least 13 U.S. service members have died since the Trump administration launched the operation, raising concerns about the risks involved. Graham defended the strategy, stating, “God bless the fallen,” but faced criticism for downplaying the human toll. Senator Elizabeth Mace, a Democrat, condemned Graham’s remarks, calling them “unacceptable” and accusing him of treating troops as expendable. “He was wrong about Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Iran,” she wrote on social media, referencing past military missteps. The debate over the operation intensified after Mace voted against a war powers resolution that would have required Trump to halt military actions in Iran. The resolution failed, allowing the administration to continue its efforts.#iran #kharg_island #lindsey_graham #u_s_senate #marines
Lindsey Graham invokes Iwo Jima in call for Trump to 'take Kharg Island' Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urged President Donald Trump to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub, during an appearance on Fox News, drawing a parallel to the historic Battle of Iwo Jima. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” Graham told host Shannon Bream: “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this.” He emphasized his confidence in the U.S. military’s ability to secure the island, which lies approximately 20 miles off Iran’s coast, and called for Trump to maintain pressure on Iran until the goal is achieved. “Keep it up for a few more weeks, take Kharg Island where all of the resources they have to produce oil, control that island, let this regime die on a vine,” Graham said. Graham’s remarks followed a recent analysis by The Atlantic magazine, which warned that an invasion of Kharg could escalate into a prolonged and costly conflict. The publication described the operation as a “grinding war of attrition,” citing the island’s strategic significance and the potential for high casualties. In response, Graham dismissed the analysis as “armchair quarterbacking,” asserting his trust in the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. “I trust the Marines, not that guy,” he said, referring to the Atlantic’s pessimistic assessment. Graham highlighted the deployment of two Marine expeditionary units to the region, reinforcing his belief in the feasibility of the mission. The Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War II, resulted in nearly 7,000 U.S. service members killed and over 20,000 wounded. The battle was a critical part of the U.S. military’s island-hopping strategy to advance toward Japan, securing airbases for bombers. Graham’s invocation of Iwo Jima underscored his argument that the U.S.#donald_trump #kharg_island #lindsey_graham #fox_news #shannon_bream
Lindsey Graham slams Europe over Strait of Hormuz reluctance Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) criticized European allies on Tuesday for their reluctance to deploy military assets to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that their inaction could have severe consequences for U.S.-European alliances. In a social media post, Graham claimed he had spoken with President Donald Trump about the issue, describing the president’s frustration as unprecedented. Trump has been pushing for an international coalition to work with the U.S. to secure the critical oil shipping lane, which Iran closed shortly after the start of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in the region. The blockade has triggered a global energy crisis and spiked oil prices. Graham accused European nations of failing to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, calling their approach a “miserable failure.” He questioned the future of transatlantic alliances, stating that the repercussions of limited support for the Strait of Hormuz could be “wide and deep” for both Europe and the U.S. “I consider myself very forward-leaning on supporting alliances,” he wrote, “but at a time of real testing like this, it makes me second guess the value of these alliances.” Trump, meanwhile, has publicly criticized NATO allies for avoiding involvement in the conflict. In a Truth Social post, he accused the alliance of making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to join the U.S. military operation against Iran. He argued that the U.S. no longer needs NATO’s assistance, despite the alliance’s traditional role in collective defense. Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, recently stated that the country does not want to engage in the conflict, emphasizing that the war was not initiated by Germany. The dispute highlights tensions between the U.S.#iran #nato #strait_of_hormuz #president_donald_trump #lindsey_graham
Trump slams Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Iran projects defiance Donald Trump expressed frustration over the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, calling the decision a mistake and warning that the younger Khamenei may not last in power. The U.S. president had previously criticized the choice, arguing that Iran’s leadership should align with Washington’s demands, and now he reiterated his dissatisfaction with the outcome. The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, followed a vote by Iran’s Assembly of Experts. The move was seen as a defiant act against the United States, which had pressured Iran to replace Ali Khamenei with a leader more willing to negotiate. Trump accused Iran of making a “big mistake” and suggested the new leader might face a similar fate as his father, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack in February. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, echoed the president’s concerns, stating that Mojtaba Khamenei was “not the change” the U.S. sought. Graham claimed the new leader would eventually meet the same end as his father, whom he labeled “one of the most evil men on the planet.” Pro-Israel commentator Mark Levin, who had previously called for the assassination of Ali Khamenei, shifted his focus to Mojtaba, urging supporters to “get the boy Khamenei.” The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran escalated dramatically in February, with a joint attack on Iran killing Ali Khamenei and several top officials. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military targets in the Middle East, disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The war has also drawn Hezbollah into the conflict, sparking a broader regional crisis.#donald_trump #mojtaba_khamenei #ali_khamenei #lindsey_graham #mark_levin
