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Sen. Graham Says After Speaking With Trump He Is “Completely Convinced That He Will Use Overwhelming Military Force Against the Regime” If They Fail to Open the Strait of Hormuz and Make a Deal

  • Rob Glenn
  • April 4, 2026
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Senator Lindsey Graham said he believes President Donald Trump is prepared to escalate military action against Iran if its leadership refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter into a diplomatic agreement, following what he described as a direct conversation with the president on April 4th.

In a public statement summarizing that exchange, Graham expressed full support for Trump’s position and framed the situation as a decisive moment for the Iranian regime. “I just had a great conversation with @POTUS. I totally support his ultimatum to the Iranian regime to open up the Strait of Hormuz and to do a peace deal. A massive military operation awaits Iran if they choose poorly,” Graham said.

Graham tied the warning directly to ongoing U.S. military operations, arguing that Iran’s leadership has already been significantly weakened. “This regime has been severely crippled through Operation Epic Fury. Their reign of terror against the region and the world needs to come to an end, hopefully through a peace deal,” he said. The campaign, launched in late February, has involved thousands of strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, including command centers, missile systems, and naval assets, as part of a broader effort to dismantle its security apparatus.

He went further in assessing Trump’s intentions following their discussion, stating that the administration is prepared to act decisively if diplomatic efforts fail. “After speaking with President Trump this morning, I am completely convinced that he will use overwhelming military force against the regime if they continue to impede the Strait of Hormuz and refuse a diplomatic solution to achieve our military objectives. If it’s not clear to Iran and others by now that President Trump means what he says then I don’t know when it will ever be. Choose wisely,” Graham said.

The senator’s remarks are consistent with his earlier calls for escalation and broader international involvement in the conflict. In March, Graham urged U.S. allies to take a more active military role, arguing that confronting Iran should not fall solely on the United States and calling on partner nations to commit forces to the region. He has also repeatedly pressed for intensifying operations, previously telling Trump to “finish the job” as U.S. strikes expanded across Iranian military targets.

Graham has framed the conflict as a narrowing window to both neutralize Iran’s military capabilities and force a geopolitical realignment in the region. His latest comments underscore a belief that the current phase of the campaign—combined with direct pressure on critical waterways like the Strait of Hormuz—could compel Iran to either negotiate or face what he described as overwhelming force.