Latest news with #R-SC
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites: Who backed, who condemned, and who raised concerns? Full list
The United States' overnight airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities — including the heavily fortified Fordow site — have triggered a wave of global political reaction, marking a sharp escalation in Middle East tensions. While the Biden administration hailed the strikes as a targeted blow against Iran's nuclear ambitions, reactions from lawmakers and world leaders have ranged from full-throated support to strong condemnation and deep concern. From Washington to Tehran, and Tel Aviv to Brussels, the world is now watching how this volatile moment could reshape geopolitics and possibly push the region closer to wider conflict. Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Trump's decision, calling it a "pivot of history." 'President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons,' Netanyahu said. 'In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things, but in tonight's action against Iran's nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed.' Signs reading "Thank you, Mr President" appeared in Tel Aviv, reflecting public support. Republican leaders in the US: Several Republican lawmakers strongly backed the strikes. 'This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). 'We have the best Air Force in the world. Fly, Fight, Win.' Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) compared the decision to President Obama's military actions in Libya and Yemen. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA): 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.' Vice President JD Vance: "We are not at war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program." "Ukraine is convinced that Iran's nuclear programme must be stopped..." the foreign ministry stated. Progressive Democrats and Independents: 'The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution,' said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). "It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) echoed her concerns: 'The only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right.' Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) called the strikes "not constitutional." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Though a Trump ally, she urged for peace: 'Let us join together and pray for the safety of our U.S. troops and Americans in the Middle East.' Iran: Tehran condemned the strikes as "criminal aggression." "The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend Iran's territory... by all force and means." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump a "lawless bully" and said he had betrayed his own voters. 'Grossly violates international law,' said the Foreign Ministry, condemning damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. China's foreign ministry "strongly condemns" the strikes, saying they "seriously violate" the UN charter. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stopped short of endorsing the strikes. "Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon... We must now de-escalate the situation." Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated: 'The UK did not participate in these strikes. We urge Iran to show restraint.' European Union: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon... I urge all sides to step back." France President Emmanuel Macron called Iranian President Pezeshkian to urge restraint: "This is the only path to peace and security for all." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed." 'There is a growing risk this conflict could rapidly get out of control.' Saudi Arabia called for "diplomatic solutions" and warned of "highly sensitive circumstances." Canada PM Mark Carney said the region remains "highly volatile" despite the intent to neutralise nuclear threats.
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Hegseth wavers on Russia sanctions, says US should not use ‘every tool' to end Ukraine invasion
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth resisted senators' efforts to secure his support for a bipartisan bill that would sanction Russia for its war on Ukraine, telling an Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday that the US should not use 'every tool at our disposal' to pressure Moscow to stop its assault. Asked by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) whether Washington 'should use every tool it has at its disposal, including additional sanctions, to pressure Russia to come to the table to negotiate a just and lasting peace for the war in Ukraine,' Hegseth demurred. 'Senator, every tool at our disposal? No,' he said. 'We have a lot of tools in a lot of places.' 'We should be pursuing a cease-fire and a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine at any cost,' Coons responded. ''Peace through strength' means actually using our strength, continuing to support Ukraine, and securing a lasting peace. [Vladimir] Putin will only stop when we stop him.' 4 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified Wednesday at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. REUTERS Prior to questioning Hegseth, Coons had talked up Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal's (D-Conn.) pending bill to further sanction Russia for its continued resistance to peace in Ukraine. The legislation, backed by 80 senators, would impose sanctions on key Russian officials and economic sectors — and, critically, penalize foreign nations that do business with Moscow. Graham later followed up, urging Hegseth and the administration 'to use that tool to get the attention of China and India.' 'China buys — and India buys — 70% of Russia's oil … If they stop buying cheap Russian oil tomorrow, would that grind Putin's war machine to a halt?' Graham asked, later adding: 'We have an ability, through legislation, to get China and India's attention [and say] that if you keep buying cheap Russian oil to empower Putin to kill Ukrainian children, you're going to lose access to our markets. 'We're not going to evict every Russian from Ukraine, I'm a practical guy,' Graham added. 'But we got to end this war so we don't entice China to take Taiwan, and we don't encourage Iran to think we're just all talk [about] stopping their nuclear ambitions.' 4 Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) questions Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense. AP On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House was quietly pushing Graham to water down the bill by allowing waivers to exempt certain people and entities from sanctions and to 'remove the mandatory nature' of the legislation. A White House official told the outlet that the Constitution 'vests the president with the authority to conduct diplomacy with foreign nations.' 'Any sanction package must provide complete flexibility for the president to continue to pursue his desired foreign policy,' they added. Hegseth did admit Wednesday that Russia is the 'aggressor' in Ukraine and that Chinese President Xi Jinping wants Moscow to 'win' the conflict. However, the secretary declined to answer Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) question about 'which side' he wanted to win the war. 'As we've said time and time again, this president is committed to peace in that conflict,' Hegseth said. 'Ultimately, peace serves our national interests, and we think the interests of both parties, even if that outcome will not be preferable to many in this room and many in our country.' 4 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) greets Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine before testifying during a hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 11. Getty Images McConnell pushed further, noting that the Russians 'don't seem to be too interested' in peace talks. The former Senate GOP leader also alleged that NATO partners increasing their defense spending at Trump's behest are now wondering 'whether we're in the midst of brokering what appears to be allowing the Russians to define victory.' 'I think victory is defined by the people that have to live there, the Ukrainians,' he said. 'And I don't think they're going to ever conclude that victory means basically adopting the Russian views on all this. ' Hegseth responded that 'no one's adopting views,' but added that the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act does not include funding of weapons for Ukraine because 'the budget reflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the defense of its own continent, and President Trump deserves the credit for that.' 4 Ranking member Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) speaks with subcommittee Chairman Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during a hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 11, 2025. Getty Images McConnell agreed, noting that he had 'the same complaints' about the Biden administration not pushing hard enough for Europe to fund Ukraine's defense. Still, the Kentuckian insisted that by not standing foursquare behind the Kyiv government, 'it seems to me pretty obvious that America's reputation is on the line.' 'Will we defend democratic allies against authoritarian aggressors?' McConnell asked. 'That's the international concern that I have about this, and I think a number of my fellow members share that view.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Steve Bannon keeps calling for Lindsey Graham to be ‘thrown in jail' for ‘stirring it up' in Ukraine
While Donald Trump largely remains silent after Ukraine's daring 'Spiderweb' drone operation in Russia, one of the president's fiercest loyalists is calling for a top Republican critic of the Kremlin to be arrested for 'stirring it up' in Kyiv. Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) – who cosponsored a Senate measure that would slap 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy products – visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill," Graham declared on Friday during a news conference in Ukraine. 'There are House members that are ready to move in the House and you will see congressional action.' 'Russia indiscriminately kills men, women and children. It's time for the world to act decisively against Russia's aggression by holding China and others accountable for buying cheap Russian oil that props up Putin's war machine,' Graham added during his Ukraine trip. The meeting with Zelensky, meanwhile, comes as Ukraine and Russia still remain far apart on ceasefire talks, resulting in Trump growing increasingly frustrated over his own efforts to bring peace to a war that he previously promised he'd end in 24 hours. This has resulted in Trump expressing his annoyance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has largely sympathized with throughout the war, while suggesting the administration could just walk away from peace negotiations. With MAGA raging over the Ukraine drone attacks and suggesting the 'Deep State' could be responsible for the stunning raids, Steve Bannon has directed much of his ire towards Graham. Besides saying that the White House needs to openly denounce Zelensky for the military strikes, the former Trump chief strategist is also urging Trump to punish the South Carolina lawmaker for his diplomatic trip. 'The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support,' Bannon exclaimed during Monday's broadcast of his War Room program. 'And tell Lindsey Graham to come home, or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. You're stirring it up!' The far-right provocateur further accused Graham of working against Trump behind the scenes, claiming the senator promised Zelensky that he'd get the sanctions measure passed regardless of the president's support for the bill. 'He's stirring it up over there,' Bannon reiterated. Meanwhile, with Graham applauding the 'ever-resourceful Ukraine' for using 'creative drone warfare tactics to successfully attack Russian bombers and military assets,' Bannon has continued to call for the president to toss the longtime Trump ally in prison or even kick him out of the country. 'Two things ought to happen: either cancel his passport and don't let him back in the country, or put him in jail if he comes back,' Bannon told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo on Monday night. 'Lindsey Graham is stirring it up right now, and people better wake up to the fact that we're getting sucked into this war, and if we get sucked in much more, it's going to be tough [to get out].' Still not done railing against the senator, Bannon brought it back up on Tuesday during the show handover with Real America's Voice host Eric Bolling. Asked by Bolling 'what the hell is Lindsey Graham doing in Ukraine right now,' Bannon repeated that the hawkish lawmaker was 'stirring it up' overseas before once again calling for Graham to be imprisoned. 'This is why I say he should be arrested,' he fumed. 'Either cut his passport off so he can never come back to the country, or arrest him. He's a troublemaker, and this now, he's egging the deep state on and misleading the Ukrainian people that we're all in on this.'He went on to say that the Ukrainian people 'understand the American people don't support this, and we're not gonna be there,' adding that 'we want to cut all the money off' to aiding Ukraine. At the same time, Bannon insisted that the United States is sympathetic towards Russia. 'The American people and the Russian people have no problem,' he concluded. 'We don't want to fight each other.'
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
To end the war in Ukraine, make Beijing's bankrolling of Russia's war machine hurt
If President Donald Trump wants lasting peace in Ukraine, he needs to unleash secondary sanctions on the countries keeping Vladimir Putin's bloody war going. Trump left Monday's call with Putin in an optimistic mood, posting that the chat 'went very well' and that 'Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.' Thing is, Putin's readout of the call still signaled that he'll accept nothing less than domination of Ukraine: That's what he means when he declares the overriding need 'to eliminate the root causes of this crisis.' Advertisement In Vlad's mind, the 'root cause' of the war is Ukraine's sovereignty, so 'Russia is ready to work with Kyiv' toward peace only via Kyiv's surrender. Trump's going to need to a big stick to get Putin to meaningfully bend. Russia illegally invaded under the guise of 'de-Nazifying' the country and saving Russian-speaking Ukrainians from 'oppression' — grievances impossible to address because they're baseless. Advertisement In all negotiations so far, Putin has insisted on conditions that would leave Kyiv neutered and vulnerable: demilitarization, NATO membership off the table, letting Russia keep all the territory it's occupying and then some. Vlad won't back off those demands unless he has no other option. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has a solution primed and ready: A bill he introduced with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to impose a crippling a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium etc. That would slam China, which has kept Putin's war machine chugging with those energy purchases and exporting hundreds of billions in products to Moscow, staving off catastrophic inflation and shortages. Advertisement Without that lifeline, Russia's already limping economy would go kaput. President Xi Jinping sees Putin as an ally in his war on the West, but will only suffer so much economic pain on behalf of Moscow. A call from him could force Vlad to face reality at the negotiating table. Graham has said that the secondary sanctions bill has enough bipartisan support to pass 'if Russia does not embrace an honorable, just and enduring peace.' Advertisement Putin is making it ever more clear he has no intention to do so. Trump should give the go-ahead to start making China's bankrolling of Moscow's bloodlust hurt. The road to peace in Ukraine goes through Beijing.
Gulf Insider
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Senators Cotton & Graham Work to Sabotage Chances of Iran Deal
Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), two of the most hawkish members of Congress, are working together to sabotage the Trump administration's chances of reaching a deal with Iran. On Thursday, the senators held a press conference outlining a resolution they're introducing that demands that any deal with Iran must include the total dismantlement of Tehran's nuclear enrichment program, an idea that Iranian officials have made clear is a non-starter. 'To the Iranian regime: you claim all you want is a peaceful nuclear power program. You can have it, but you cannot enrich and you must dismantle,' Graham said. 'And you must dismantle now.' Graham and Cotton said that any deal must require ratification from the Senate and must also impose limits on Iran's ballistic missile program and support for its allies in the region, conditions that are also a non-starter for Tehran. 'A treaty with Iran in this space is only possible if you get 67 votes,' Graham said. 'You're not going to get 67 votes for a treaty regarding their nuclear program unless they deal with the missile program and their terrorism activity. So is it possible? Yes, if Iran changes.' The senators also repeated President Trump's threat that if there is no deal, the US will attack Iran.' 'Iran can either have a nuclear program that's lying in ruins, smoking, destroyed, and dismantled, or it can have a peaceful civilian nuclear power program with no centrifuges, no enriching, no re-processing, and no pathway to a nuclear weapon,' he said. Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran over its nuclear program even though his intelligence agencies recently reaffirmed that there's no evidence Tehran is building a bomb or that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reversed his ban on the development of nuclear weapons. Iran is currently enriching some uranium at 20% and 60%, which is still lower than the 90% needed for weapons-grade. Tehran has made clear that it's willing to bring enrichment levels back down to 3.67%, the limit imposed by the JCPOA.
