Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Wednesday endorsed the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, arguing the agreement is beneficial because it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities with Iran while potentially creating conditions for broader regional peace and integration.
The South Carolina senator, who has been among the Republican Party’s most hawkish voices on Iran, said in a post on X that he had a “very lengthy and productive discussion” with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the state of negotiations.
“After this discussion, it is my opinion that signing the MOU will be beneficial to the United States, in as much as the Strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop,” Graham wrote.
“Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying,” he continued. “The economic stability that comes from opening up the Strait and the cessation of hostilities could create a pathway to peace well beyond the Iranian conflict.”
Graham also linked the agreement to President Donald Trump’s broader regional ambitions, writing that “The expansion of the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is President Trump’s and my ultimate goal. I think that is best achieved by creating economic stability for the United States, the region and the world, as well as the cessation of hostilities. The signing of the MOU is an essential step to make that happen and thus it is worthwhile.”
Vice President JD Vance quickly welcomed Graham’s support.
“Thank you, Lindsey. The President’s coalition is uniting behind his leadership and vision for a safer, more peaceful and prosperous world,” Vance wrote.
Graham’s endorsement came as Trump, speaking at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, repeatedly warned that the United States would resume military action if Iran violated the memorandum. Pressed on how the agreement would permanently prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, given that the MOU states only that Iran “reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons,” Trump responded: “When I say permanently, it should be permanently, but if it’s not permanently, we will bomb them.” Asked whether the agreement itself contains any enforceable mechanism, Trump replied: “There doesn’t have to be … We’re gonna bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement.”
The broader regional argument also tracked with remarks Trump made to Breitbart News during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit a day earlier, when he predicted that additional Arab countries would join the Abraham Accords following the weakening of Iran and its proxies.
“I think they’re all going to come in now into the Abraham Accords. The only conflict was a place called Iran, and I understand that. It’s a little bit tough when people were afraid of Iran. But I think they’re going to all start coming in,” Trump said.
Calling Trump’s comments among the most important remarks he heard from the president at the G7 summit, Graham said Tuesday: “I sincerely hope the upcoming negotiations to forever foreclose Iran’s nuclear ambitions are a success.”
“Due to President Trump’s actions, it is clear to me Iran and its proxies are incredibly weakened and their ability to generate another October 7 doesn’t exist, and there has been a major setback in their nuclear capability,” Graham added.
“The ultimate win for taking on Iran is to open up a pathway to peace through Abraham Accord expansion and build on regional integration,” he continued. “If the conflict with Iran yields this outcome, it will be one of the most successful military operations in American history.”
The United States and Iran remotely signed the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday after Trump personally signed a copy of the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles in France, according to reports. The agreement is now in effect and is expected to trigger negotiations aimed at reaching a broader final accord over Iran’s nuclear program and other outstanding issues.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein .
Read the full article at Breitbart News →📄Source document: Statement by Senator Lindsey Graham on X→4 reports
Breitbart NewsIndependentRight3 days agoSeveral Republican lawmakers, including Senators Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul, expressed support for President Donald Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran. They criticized opponents of the deal, suggesting they are responsible for past failed interventions. Graham discussed potential benefits of the MOU, such as reducing hostilities and opening the Strait of Hormuz, while Paul emphasized his opposition to prolonged military involvement.
Bias read (Right): The article frames support for Trump's Iran deal as a positive move, criticizes opponents as 'architects of failed interventions,' and emphasizes themes of ending war and avoiding military entanglement—common conservative talking points. The framing leans toward supporting the administration's Iran-
Breitbart NewsIndependentRight3 days ago Graham: Signing Iran MOU ‘Beneficial’ to U.S.—Opens Hormuz, Ends Hostilities, Could Create Pathway to Regional PeaceSenator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) supports the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), stating it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end hostilities with Iran, and potentially lead to regional peace. He discussed the matter with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and expressed openness to pursuing a deal with Iran, despite uncertainties around a full agreement on nuclear issues. Graham also connected the MOU to broader goals like expanding the Abraham Accords.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Senator Lindsey Graham's endorsement of the U.S.-Iran MOU in a manner that emphasizes potential benefits such as ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and promoting regional peace. The framing highlights positive outcomes without significant counterpoints or doubts
RealClearPoliticsIndependentCenter5 days agoThe article suggests that the true test of the Iran deal will only occur if hostilities cease, implying that ongoing conflict may obscure the agreement's effectiveness.
Bias read (Center): The headline presents a conditional statement without overtly favoring any side. It does not contain biased language, one-sided sourcing, or clear editorializing. The lack of body text prevents further determination of potential slant.
NewsweekIndependentCenter6 days agoChina expressed cautious optimism regarding the recent agreement between the United States and Iran to end hostilities following the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran in late February. The Chinese Foreign Ministry welcomed the development and emphasized the importance of peaceful resolutions through dialogue. President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Iran's state media reported that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) could result in the unfreezing of Iranian assets and shared management of the strait with Oman, though some U
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or emphasis. It reports on China's response to the U.S.-Iran agreement, including quotes from Chinese officials and statements from Trump and Iranian media. There is no clear ideological framing or selective sourcing that would
Official sources cited
- government Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian
- government President Donald Trump
- government Iran's state-owned Mehr news agency
United States