Iran’s renewed push to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal now poses as grave a threat as its nuclear program, US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R - South Carolina) warned in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
“This trip is about elevating the risk ballistic missiles pose to Israel,” Graham told the Post.
In response to concerns raised by many Israeli officials about Trump discussing only the nuclear threat and neglecting the ballistic missile threat, he stated, “That’s changing. We cannot allow Iran to produce ballistic missiles because they could overwhelm the Iron Dome. It’s a major threat.”
Speaking ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump, Graham said his visit was intended to sharpen American focus on Iran’s missile production – an issue he believes must move to the top tier of US-Israel strategic priorities.
“My takeaway from this trip is simple,” Graham said. “Hamas is regenerating. Iran is regenerating. Hezbollah is trying to build more weapons. We hit them hard, but they’re trying to come back – and on the missile side, that’s a real threat to Israel.”
Iran aims to overwhelm Israeli air defenses
Graham said Iran is producing ballistic missiles “in very high numbers,” warning that a future conflict would likely focus on that capability in order to overwhelm Israel’s air defenses. “They were degraded before, but if there is another attack [against them], it would be focused on their ballistic missile capability so they can’t overwhelm Iron Dome,” he said.
Asked whether Washington should view the missile threat as strategic to the United States as well, Graham left little room for ambiguity. “Anything that weakens Israel weakens America,” he said. “What Israel provides us in terms of national security infrastructure – the Mossad, Shin Bet [Israel Security Service], the IDF – we could not replicate. The money we provide to Israel is a small fraction of what we get in return.”
He dismissed growing debates within parts of the Republican Party questioning the value of the alliance. “That’s a silly debate,” he said. “Israel is a great ally. When the Jewish state is under threat from Iran, America is under threat from Iran.”
Graham stopped short of calling for regime change by force, but made clear he wants Iran’s leadership severely weakened. “I think the people of Iran will do it,” he said. “I want to destroy their capability to produce ballistic missiles. I want to make sure they can never enrich one ounce of uranium or plutonium,” he said. “And I want their proxies – Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis – dealt with effectively.”
Without Iran, he argued, none of those groups could survive. “They’re a fanatical regime. They oppress their own people. I pray for this regime to fall – but I’m not advocating an American invasion of Iran.”
There can be no peace, while Hamas is armed
Graham reiterated his long-standing view that peace is impossible as long as Hamas remains armed. “There can be no peace between the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel with Hamas armed. It’s non-negotiable,” he said, calling for a clear ultimatum. “Give them 60 days. If they don’t disarm, Israel should be allowed to finish them off.”
He said the same logic applies to Hezbollah, which he described as the chief obstacle to both regional stability and normalization between Israel and Arab states such as Saudi Arabia. “The United States’ interest is well served by the destruction of Hezbollah,” the senator said, advocating a joint strategy involving Israel, the US, and a strengthened Lebanese army should Hezbollah refuse to disarm.
Regarding Turkey, Graham offered a mixed assessment. While acknowledging Ankara’s role in NATO and assistance in hostage-related efforts, he sharply criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rhetoric toward Israel.
“What Erdogan says about Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu is appalling,” he said. “I understand completely why Israelis would oppose Turkey being part of any stabilizing force.”
The senator also addressed Venezuela, labeling the Maduro regime a “narco-terrorist state” aligned with Iran and Russia. “Maduro is a direct threat to the United States,” Graham said. “He stole the election, he traffics drugs, Hezbollah is operating there, and Iran has openly said it would come to his aid.”
While saying he does not support a full-scale invasion, he argued that “no option should be taken off the table,” including strikes against drug-trafficking infrastructure inside the country.
“Venezuela is an enormous and direct threat to the US – we should take out the Maduro regime,” the senator said.
“He is not a legitimate president.”