Transcript: GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," June 21, 2026

Key Points:

• Senator Lindsey Graham has shifted to support a $300 billion fund for Iran, provided the money comes from Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, indicating a potential change in Iran's stance if these countries invest.
• Graham rejects fellow Republicans' concerns that the deal would fund Iran's military and terrorist activities, arguing that the amount is insufficient to alter Iran's future and that diplomacy should be tried before considering war.
• He predicts that if the diplomatic deal fails, former President Trump will take control of the Strait of Hormuz by force, charge fees for passage, expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia, and adopt a more aggressive stance against Iran.
• On U.S. intelligence leadership, Graham supports Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence and urges reauthorization of FISA Section 702 to maintain vital surveillance capabilities, warning that shutting it down would increase national security risks.
• Graham criticizes Bill Pulte's current role as acting DNI, citing lack of experience and concerns over misuse of data, and stresses the need to confirm Clayton to restore effective intelligence oversight amid ongoing threats.