Reacting to President Donald Trump's latest move against Iran, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said ratcheting up sanctions against Tehran will not be enough to change the regime's behavior, The Hill reported Wednesday.
"The maximum pressure campaign has worked in the sense it's crippled the regime's economy . . . but it has not changed their behavior," Graham told reporters. "The only conclusion I think you can reach is that the Iranians, while having been hurt by the maximum pressure campaign, have not been deterred in terms of their provocative behavior. And it's going to take something, I think, beyond sanctions to achieve that deterrence."
When Graham was pressed if the president's plan would not be enough, Graham said, "In the past they haven't been, but time will tell. . . . My belief is that additional sanctions will fall short."
Trump announced on Twitter he would "substantially" increase sanctions on Iran after administration officials blamed the Islamic Republic for drone attacks on Saudi oil sites over the weekend.
This was the second time this week Graham criticized Trump's Iran policy.
The senator had called Trump's response to an earlier drone incident insufficient, after the president had authorized military action on Iran in response to the downing of the drone but changed his mind after learning there would be 150 casualties.
"The measured response by President Trump regarding the shooting down of an American drone was clearly seen by the Iranian regime as a sign of weakness," Graham said in a tweet, adding it was "imperative we take decisive action to deter further aggression."
Trump slammed Graham on Twitter for the comments, writing "No Lindsey, it was a sign of strength that some people just don't understand!"
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.