Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned it is “too early to inform” if Iran has given up its nuclear ambitions following U.S. strikes in opposition to key nuclear services within the nation, however the Trump ally mentioned he believes it is nonetheless the regime’s “need” to make a nuclear weapon.
On Friday, President Donald Trump appeared to dismiss the potential for Iran to renew its enrichment program, telling reporters, “The very last thing they’re fascinated by proper now could be enriched uranium.”
Pressed by “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl about these feedback and whether or not Iran has given up its “ambitions to be a nuclear energy,” Graham mentioned, “Too early to inform. I do agree that the three websites had been obliterated.”
However, the South Carolina Republican argued that whereas Iran is “executed with that enrichment program,” the regime is “not executed desirous to destroy Israel or making an attempt to come back after us.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with ABC Information whereas showing on This Week, June 29, 2025.
ABC Information
“Operation Midnight Hammer was an incredible navy success. It set this system again, I believe, a pair years,” Graham mentioned. “However the query for the world, does the regime nonetheless need to make a nuclear weapon? The reply is sure. Do they nonetheless need to destroy Israel and are available after us? The reply is sure. Till that adjustments, we have got to maintain our — we’re in bother.”
Trump has recommended there could also be a gathering with the Iranians at some point. Graham mentioned he believes Iran should publicly affirm Israel’s sovereignty earlier than any such assembly ought to happen.
“This is the requirement to take a seat down and discuss: They should say, for the primary time, the Iranian regime, ‘We acknowledge Israel’s proper to exist. We do not just like the state, we do not like what they do, however we acknowledge Israel has the precise to exist as a folks,'” Graham mentioned. “If they cannot say that, you are by no means going to get a deal price a rattling. So earlier than you sit down with the Iranians, make them say publicly for the primary time, ‘Israel has a proper to exist,’ and so they cannot say that, that tells you all you must learn about who you are coping with.”
Listed below are extra highlights from Graham’s interview:
Graham says Trump instructed him “it is time to transfer” on Russia sanctions invoice
Graham: So what does this invoice do? If you happen to’re shopping for merchandise from Russia and you are not serving to Ukraine, then there is a 500% tariff in your merchandise coming to the USA. India and China purchase 70% of Putin’s oil. They hold his conflict machine going. My invoice has 84 co-sponsors. It will enable the President to place tariffs on China and India and different international locations, to get them — cease them from supporting Putin’s conflict machine, to get him to the desk for the primary time yesterday, the President instructed me —
Karl: You had been enjoying golf with him.
Graham: Yeah, I used to be enjoying golf with him. He says, ‘It is time to transfer, transfer your invoice.’ ‘There is a waiver within the invoice, Mr. President, you are in control of whether or not or not it is to be applied.’ However we will give President Trump a instrument within the toolbox he does not have at the moment. After the July break, we will cross a invoice that may enable the president —
Karl: And he’ll signal it?
Graham: Yeah, I believe we’re in good condition, however he has a waiver. It is as much as him learn how to impose it, however we’re making an attempt to get Putin to the desk.
On the Supreme Courtroom resolution on injunctions: “Choose-shopping must cease.”
Graham: So the ruling was, a single choose can’t cease coverage for your complete nation — that is past the mandate of a federal district courtroom choose. You continue to have judicial evaluate, however it has to go up the chain. A single choose cannot cease a program for your complete nation. And that is a great factor, as a result of folks had been going choose purchasing. The suitable would go choose —
Karl: I imply, you had been going judge-shopping again within the day.
Graham: Everyone goes judge-shopping!
Karl: I am sufficiently old to recollect whenever you had been all in favor of the injunction in opposition to DAPA (Deferred Motion for Dad and mom of Individuals and Lawful Everlasting Residents) underneath Obama.
Graham: Completely! I imply — and I am right here to say, judge-shopping must cease. We have to have a system the place if you are going to enjoin coverage for the nation, it is executed at a better degree than a single choose for the left or the precise.
On Trump attacking fellow Republican Sen. Thom Tillis
Karl: The president went on a tirade in opposition to Tillis final night time, mentioned he’ll meet with main challengers, mentioned that he is grandstanding on all of this. What do you make of that? Is it grandstanding?
Graham: I have been on the receiving finish of that (laughs).
Karl: Sure, you may have.
Graham: He runs exhausting, and he can forgive. We’re making an attempt to do exhausting issues that ought to be executed and should be executed. We’re $37 trillion in debt. Medicaid has grown 50% in 5 years. It is about to take over Medicare. What we have executed (on this invoice) is restricted the expansion to six% for 2 years, 4% after that, so Medicaid will not be lower.
