Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios on Saturday that several people around President Trump are advising him not to bomb Iran. Graham urged the president to ignore them.
Why it matters: With two aircraft carriers and hundreds of warplanes preparing for what could be a major military operation, top Trump advisers tell Axios that the president still hasn't made up his mind.
- He has been presented with military options that include killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son.
- But his team is also showing some limited flexibility in talks with Iran. A senior official told Axios the U.S. would consider an Iranian proposal that includes some "token" uranium enrichment if it ensures there is no path to a bomb.
Between the lines: Graham, who is close to Trump, is leading the pro-strike camp in Trump's orbit.
- Graham visited the Middle East earlier this week and discussed Iran with the leaders of Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
What he is saying: "I understand concerns about major military operations in the Middle East given past entanglements. However, the voices who counsel against getting entangled seem to ignore the consequences of letting evil go unchecked," Graham told Axios.
- Graham said that after his recent trip to the region he thinks that there is an opportunity "to bring about historic change" in Iran.
- "But it's increasingly clear to me that voices opposing entanglement and the risk associated with decisive action are getting louder. Time will tell as to how this plays out," he said.
- Graham added: "I have a lot of respect for President Trump. He is his own man. And as with all presidents, he will be held responsible for his decisions on such weighty matters. As to me, history will be very clear as to where I stood, for better or worse."
The other side: Some of Trump's advisers are urging him to hold off on strikes and keep leveraging the military threat to try to extract concessions.
- There are also doubts among some in Trump's inner circle about the wisdom of launching a regime change operation in Iran.
