Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday urged President Donald Trump to keep tight control over the Strait of Hormuz, casting the U.S. naval blockade as a key point of leverage in Washington’s confrontation with Iran and as a way to force Tehran into a harder line on nuclear talks.
Graham Says Blockade Gives Trump Leverage
In an X post, the South Carolina Republican argued that the maritime squeeze is working. “The brilliant blockade is crushing the Iranian economy. The IRGC attack on international shipping is a sign of desperation,” Graham wrote, before adding, “Mr. President: take control of the Strait of Hormuz and keep the blockade in place. Then you will truly have all the cards.”
Graham also rejected any revival of the 2015 nuclear framework, comparing Iranian uranium enrichment to a threat that should never be legitimized. In the same post, he said Iran and al Qaeda shared the same goals and argued that Tehran has no right to enrich uranium because it “cheat[s] and lie[s],” concluding, “No JCPOA-like deal on President Trump’s watch.”
Hawkish Message Fits His Broader Record
That message fits Graham’s broader hawkish posture. Reuters reported in March that Graham backed Trump’s pressure campaign on Iran and dismissed the idea that Washington would be responsible for what followed if Tehran’s leadership changed.
Hormuz Crisis Threatens Fragile Peace Talks
The comments came as the Strait of Hormuz lurched back into crisis. Reuters reported Friday that Iran’s foreign minister had declared the passage open to all commercial vessels during the ceasefire, but by Sunday, traffic was again largely halted after Iranian forces fired on departing tankers and Tehran reimposed its own blockade.
Trump escalated the rhetoric further on Sunday morning, accusing Iran of “a total violation” of the ceasefire after ships came under fire near Hormuz and renewing his threat to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran refuses U.S. terms. The latest flare-up came just before planned talks in Islamabad, which Reuters said were already in doubt after Iran signaled it might not send a delegation.
Photo Courtesy: Al Teich on Shutterstock.com
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