Sen. Lindsey Graham: "Let's try a diplomatic solution. I think it's going to fail."

Key Points:

• GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham expects U.S. diplomatic efforts with Iran to fail but prefers to attempt diplomacy before considering other options, noting ongoing tensions such as the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
• Vice President JD Vance and U.S. negotiators are engaged in a 60-day negotiation period with Iran following a recent memorandum of understanding, amid rising conflict involving Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
• Graham warned that if diplomacy fails, former President Trump would take control of the Strait of Hormuz by force, impose fees on passage, and work to expand the Abraham Accords by 2026, with a readiness to respond militarily to Iranian aggression.
• Graham’s stance on the deal has softened slightly, now believing reconstruction funds for Iran will come from U.S.-allied Gulf states rather than the West, which he sees as a sign of potential regional economic cooperation despite his concerns about the memorandum.
• Despite calling the memorandum "problematic," Graham contends the financial aid outlined is insufficient to fundamentally change Iran’s trajectory or power structure.