Sen. Lindsey Graham says there’s “not much” time left before the United States might have to attack Iran if the rogue country continues to ignore warnings to stop development of its disputed nuclear program.
“They know they can’t win a fight with us,” Graham said Thursday night on Fox News’s “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.”
Reacting to reports the United States already has plans in place to mount a military strike if necessary, Graham said it’s now up to the Obama administration to convince the Iranians a strike could come soon — even before the U.S. election in November.
“So President Obama, if you are listening out there, please convince the Iranians that all options really are on the table,” Graham said.
The South Carolina Republican, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested that sanctions and diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Iran from enriching uranium have all but failed.
But he said Iranian leaders continue to ignore international calls to open up their program for inspection because they “think they can take Israel on militarily and survive” and don’t believe the United States will risk another war in the Middle East.
“So the goal for the Obama administration is to convince the Iranians, ‘If you don’t stop enriching and come to the table, and open up your program for international inspection . . . you could be subject to a military strike by our nation,’” Graham said.
“The only way they will stop marching toward a nuclear weapon is if they believe the regime’ life is at stake and their livelihood being at risk, and that means a strike by the United States,” the senator added.
He said it’s time to tell the Iranians, “No negotiations. . . . You are not going to get to enrich uranium any more, period.”
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