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Sen. Lindsey Graham: Attack Iran "Sooner Rather Than Later" (January 2026)
Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Tom Cotton and other US politicians calling for regime change or ground action in Iran.
'Sooner Than Later': Senator Lindsey Graham Urges Military Action On Iran After Meeting Reza Pahlavi · CNN-News18 · uploaded 2026-01-15 · 9:03
Original: youtube.com/watch?v=JdQKPdDhAhI · IPFS QmYbRSns4LHCgZQQ86QzGBBV6fQ8aWnemUCopbDzC3xTkz
What this video is evidence for
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has called for regime change in Iran for two decades, and he is one of President Trump's closest allies in the Senate. In mid-January 2026, during a deadly crackdown on protests inside Iran and weeks before the US–Israeli war began, he met Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah, whom the United States restored to power in the 1953 coup.
According to this CNN-News18 report (January 15, 2026), Graham was "pushing for the U.S. to attack the Iranian regime" and said it should come "sooner rather than later." In a video he posted on X with Pahlavi, Graham called Iran's government "the largest state sponsor of terrorism on the planet," said it has "American blood on its hands," and thanked President Trump for "picking the people," adding that "the only way you can make Iran great again is for the protesters to win over the regime." The report notes that Pahlavi had been at Mar-a-Lago the day before and met Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.
The broadcast is mostly anchors summarizing, with little of Graham's own voice. What it documents is the timeline: a senior senator close to the President publicly urging an attack and meeting a would-be replacement ruler, weeks before the bombs fell. Graham's other statements, including "we're going to make a ton of money," are on their own pages.
Where this fits: see American Soldiers Iran Videos for the full explanation and sources.
Transcript
Machine transcription (apple-speechanalyzer) of the full 00:09:03. It can mishear names and words, so check exact wording against the video before quoting it.
Viewers, we are breaking information coming in. That Republican senator, Lindsay Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump, is pushing for the U.S. to attack the Iranian regime amid a deadly crackdown on antique government protest, and, um, uh, grammar said sooner, rather than later. We are breaking news coming in, that Republicans Anita Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump, is pushing for the U.
S. to attack the Iranian regime, amid a deadly crackdown on anti government protests right now. And he's also said sooner rather than later. So, Sdhan, back to you. We discuss almost every morning that how seriously the U.
S. is considering attacking them. Now, can you please share with us what risks do U.S. officials see intervening militarily in Iran, particularly in terms of regional escalation or harm to protesters as well?
Well, US Center, uh, Graham meets uh, Reza Pahalby. In fact, AD at 38, we stand with Iranian regime, against the brutal Iranian people, against the brutal regime. Now, U.S. Senator Lincigrahem, on Wednesday, met the exiled crown prince of Iran, Reza Phelby, and reappreciated Washington support for the Iranian people, against the brutal regime in Tehran.
In a video message posted on X, Graham said, that it would be up to the citizens of Iran to decide who they pick as their next leader. Uh, in fact, Senate, Lindsey Graham, uh, here with the crown prince of Iran, uh, said that I have followed you, your passion, the way you articulate the hope of your people, it will be up to the people of Iran, to pick their next leader. Now, he says that we stand with the people of Iran against the brutal regime. Uh, make Iran great again, the post uh, says, uh, praising the U.S.
President Donald Trump for helping Iran, uh, Graham said that the, that the Kameeni regime is the largest uh, estate sponsor of terrorism on the planet and president Trump. Thank you for picking the people. You are the 1st one to do that. Thank you for acknowledging that the only way you can make Iran great again is for the protesters to win over the regime and I believe that day at hand and to the American people, for the exile crown prince of Iran Reza Pelli asserted that the Iranian people would get complete freedom and the choice would be there this time. So, a very, very significant meeting taking place, um, had a very important juncture because, uh, uh, uh, Reza Palvi was at Mara Lago also on Tuesday, but he couldn't meet President Trump.
So, in fact, there are reports that, uh, Steve Petkov. Perhaps there are no pictures or details of the meeting. Now, this is uh, again, he's meeting uh, a senior uh, Republican senator, somebody close to President Trump. Right, so Danti, with us, we have more information coming in on Iran from the US. U.
S. Sunita, Lindsey, Graham, met with exiled Iranian crown prince, Riza Palavi, on Wednesday, if he was reiterating Washington support for Iranian people against what he called a brutal regime in Tehran. In a video message posted on ex formally known as Twitter, Graham said the future leadership of Iran must be decided by its own citizens. Sadank, back to you, like you mentioned earlier, that he was in Mar Lago recently. Right, so it looks like we have lost Sadhan for a bit, but we are given to understand viewers that U.
S. Anita Lindsay Graham met Wednesday with exiled crown prince, Iranian crown prince Reza Pelvi, using the encounter to underscore Washington's support for the Iranian people, and sharpen his criticism of what he called a brutal regime in Tehran. In a video message posted on X, which was formerly known as Twitter, Graham said that Iran's future leadership must be decided by its own citizens praising Paluvi for articulating what he described as the hopes of a long suffering population. Graham also lauded President Donald Trump for backing protesters and accused Iran's ruling establishment under supreme leader atolali Kamini of being the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, saying the regime has American blood on its hands. Below is speaking alongside Graham, said Iranians are closer than ever to achieving freedom, and insisted the choice of Iran's next leader must rest with the people themselves, calling the current moment, the possible end of a dark night for the country after decades of repression.
We are given to understand that US senator, Lindsay Graham, met Wednesday with exiled, Iranian crown prince Reza Paluvi, using the encounter to endorse Washington's support for the Iranian people and sharpen its criticism of what he called a brutal regime in Tehran. So we have CNN News 18 Sadhan Mishra back with us live. Sudhant, how significant is this meeting? Could you please tell us if we know about any deeds, any particular information, critical information that was discussed during the meeting? And also if we know about rights groups within Tehran and outside of Iran, who support Reza Palvi coming back as the head of the country.
Well, this is the 2nd time, whether Pelvi is meeting somebody very close to President Trump. In fact, the other day he was at Mara-Lago, but he could not meet President Trump. But what we know is that he met Steve Bitcoff. And now, yeah, he's meeting a senator who's very close to President Trump, uh, Lindsay Graham, and, uh, they had a meeting. In fact, Razabahelvi, Lindsay Graham appreciated the role of Razapalvi, his passion for people, uh, and, and dedication for the cause.
In fact, uh, uh, you know, the meeting uh, uh, took place on a very positive note. So, uh, you know, these meetings could also be seen as, as a, as an endorsement uh, by the U.S. government, for as a LB leadership, in case there is a regime change in Iran, uh, uh, so far, President Trump has not directly endorsed Reza Pendi as the leader, because he says that there are many other people who can go to Iran, et cetera, et cetera. But Reza Pelli has really been trying hard to get attention of the Trump administration, perhaps and to meet them, et cetera.
Now this is the 2nd meeting, offer, help me with the Trump administration. So, so, uh, also the fact is that he doesn't enjoy a lot of popularity in Iran. There are only groups of which supports him. Largely people are looking for an alternative and since they don't have an alternative, so they say that Razapal, we could be an alternative, and could lead country to a democratic transition, not being the leader or the city return of the Shah regime in Iran. So that's very clear in the minds of the protesters.
Also, Rezapel, we may claim that, uh, that when he gives the call for the protest, people come on the streets. But the fact is that, you know, it is organic. the anger against the government is organic. It's not that he is giving calls, then only people are coming on the street, or those people are his supporters. So that, that's the narrative which uh, which he's trying to build uh, the, in the minds of the, of, of people, American, uh, administration, et cetera.
But also the problem here is that other than Thebony, there is nobody who can actually uh, lead the country because there are 2 uh, uh, opposition uh, uh, figures in Iran and both are in in jail, both are in prison. So, so, so who will lead the country if the regime goes down if, uh, if, uh, if, uh, if Hamaini decides to step down. So that is also one of the concerns because if there is no leadership, then country will go into chaos, you know, given the, the military uh, presence in, in Iran, Pasi, JRGC, their army, uh, so it could be uh, chaotic uh, uh, situation after the fall. So, right now, you know, US government is definitely meeting this up, but there's no official endorsement of Reza, LV as the leader. They are still mulling over other options as well.
Uh, and also not clear whether there's going to be any kind of a military strike or a regime change, et cetera. Because, uh, uh, the army, IRGC, Basiege, have not defected yet. You know, they are still loyal to uh, to, to the supreme leader. The authorities are still loyal to the supreme leader. So unless that, uh, they, that defection happens, you know, the regime is going to continue.
Right, Sudhan, very well explained, but please stay with us. We have more breaking news coming in.
Last Updated: 2026-09-27