Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Tuesday called for the US to coordinate with Israel on strikes against Iranian oil refineries in response to the Iranian missile attack on Israel, which came in retaliation for Israeli escalations in the region.
“This missile attack against Israel should be the breaking point, and I would urge the Biden Administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran’s ability to refine oil,” Graham said in a statement.
“These oil refineries need to be hit and hit hard because that is the source of cash for the regime to perpetrate their terror,” he added.
The hawkish senator also said that he spoke with former President Donald Trump about the Iranian attack. “I spoke with President Trump earlier today, and he is determined and resolved to protect Israel from the threats of terrorism emanating from Iran. I can assure you Iran attacks Israel at their own peril,” Graham wrote on X.
Other Republicans in Congress expressed support for Israeli action against Iran, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
“I urge the reimposition of a maximum pressure campaign against Iran and fully support Israel’s right to respond disproportionately to stop this threat. The United States will continue to stand with Israel,” Rubio said.
The US intervened directly to help Israel intercept Iranian missiles, and the Biden administration says it’s coordinating with Israel on a response. “There will be severe consequences for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the missile attack was a response to the killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, and Abbas Nilforoushan, an IRGC commander who was killed alongside Nasrallah.
