Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday evening, April 7, expressed full confidence in President Donald Trump’s handling of negotiations with Iran as a critical 8 p.m. EDT deadline approaches.
Graham used his X handle, where he said he believes Trump “understands who he’s talking to in Iran and earnestly seeks a diplomatic solution. But it has to be the right deal.”
The Republican from South Carolina added, “President Trump, better than anyone I know, understands how to deal with the toughest of people.”
The statement came less than 3 hours before Trump’s self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face massive U.S. strikes on the country’s infrastructure.
Trump to take Iran to the Stone Age.
Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to comply would result in the destruction of Iran’s bridges and power plants, potentially sending the nation “back to the stone ages.”
The current conflict started in late February after the U.S. and Israel launched massive military operations against Iran.
The conflict started with powerful strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, military targets, and leadership figures, including the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in earlier attacks.
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Iran responded in a similar manner by launching missiles and drones against U.S. bases in the Middle East and against Israel. Iran also closed The Strait of Hormuz, which has led to high fuel prices in many parts of the world, considering it carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Trump set the 8 p.m. deadline as the final extension after previous ultimatums. In a news conference on Monday, he said U.S. forces have plans to decimate every major bridge in Iran by midnight the following night and render all power plants inoperable.
Graham’s latest stance shows his vivid, consistent support for Trump’s hardline approach. In recent weeks, he has supported Trump’s threats of “overwhelming military force” if Iran refuses a diplomatic solution that meets U.S. objectives.
He has long advocated confronting the Iranian regime, arguing that past diplomatic efforts under previous administrations failed to curb its nuclear ambitions and regional aggression.
The senator has revealed that, on several occasions, he spoke with the President, and he always urged the President to demand a deal that prevents Iran from resuming its role as a leading sponsor of terrorism.
Graham concluded his post by reinforcing trust in Trump’s judgment on dealing with adversaries. The senator has stood by the president through multiple foreign policy crises. He believes only Trump can solve the conflict and make America great again.
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The current round of indirect talks, mediated in part through Pakistan, has produced what Trump described as a “significant step” from Iran but not enough to satisfy U.S. demands.
Iran has pushed for a permanent end to hostilities, sanctions relief, and reconstruction aid. On the other hand, the U.S. insists on verifiable changes in Iranian behavior, including ending nuclear enrichment activities and halting any kind of support for terror groups in the region.
Iran’s rare preparations in response to the U.S. threats.
Meanwhile, ahead of the deadline, Iran has been urging all civilians to form human chains around power plants and other infrastructure in anticipation of possible strikes.
Reports from Tehran indicate heightened tension as residents prepare for what could be a night of intense bombardment.
White House officials said Trump remains in constant contact with military commanders and allies. Additional U.S. forces have deployed to the region in recent weeks to support operations.
The coming hours will determine whether diplomacy prevails or whether U.S. forces launch what Trump described as a decisive operation lasting as little as four hours.
Just an hour ago, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged President Trump to extend his 8 p.m. EDT deadline for Iran to make a deal.
The Hill reports that he wanted Trump to extend the deadline by two more weeks, saying, “diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily.”
