Republican Senator Ted Cruz said that the U.S. should be arming the opposition to the Iranian regime as part of the ongoing war.
"I think our objective should be regime collapse," he told CBS News national security analyst and Free Press columnist Aaron MacLean on the "School of War" podcast.
The outlet noted that Cruz had previously advocated for arming protesters in Iran in January. Back then, protests saw tens of thousands of Iranian's take to the streets to protest the Islamic dictatorship and economic conditions in the country.
Iran eventually launched a brutal crackdown against the protesters on January 8 and January 9. Some estimates placed the two-day death toll at more than 30,000 civilians.
The January demonstrations were only the latest example of discord in Iran. In 2022, protests swept Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in custody after being arrested for improperly wearing a hijab. Those protests also ended in violence, with regime forces killing at least 550 people, according to the United Nations; France 24 reported.
President Trump launched the U.S. war against Iran on February 28. Despite repeated air strikes, including the killing of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the war has continued. Trump has sought to cut a deal with Iran and its current leadership, but attempts at a ceasefire have not held.
One of the biggest issues of the war has been the Strait of Hormuz, which borders southern Iran. About 20 percent of the world's oil supply is exported through the Strait, and Iran has effectively disrupted the shipping lane. Cruz told CBS News that facilitating the overthrow of Iran's government is the answer.
"What I believe we should do, what I have urged President Trump repeatedly, what I've urged Israel to do repeatedly, is arm the protesters, give them the guns, to let them overthrow their own government so that it's not American boots on the ground, it's Iranians fighting for their own country," Cruz told the outlet.
Cruz did not specify who would be armed or how they would be armed. Currently, there are no reported mass protests in Iran. And, although there were mass protests in January, there has been little organized opposition to the regime as Iran has actively arrested and executed potential opponents.
So far this year, Iran Human Rights reported that Iran has executed 457 people, including 71 in July alone. Although Iran states that many people are executed for crimes, such as rape and murder, some are protesters and political dissidents.
"The 2026 executions also include 28 protesters (26 from the January protests and two from 'Woman, Life, Freedom'), 13 political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups and 12 espionage defendants," Iran Human Rights reported.
Cruz told CBS News that he didn't "particularly care who comes next," adding he'd be satisfied "as long as they are not an Islamist who hates America and is actively trying to kill Americans."
