Lindsey Graham: ‘the Mothership Of Terrorism Is Sinking’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) hailed the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday as a turning point for the Middle East, saying the “mothership of terrorism is sinking” and that “the captain is dead.”

“I don’t know if this is technically a war, but here’s what I can say the headline is: The mothership of terrorism is sinking. The captain is dead. The largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, is close to collapsing,” Graham gloated Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

When asked if the U.S. is officially at war with Iran, Graham stopped short of saying so, but suggested Tehran might see it that way.

“I think the ayatollah would say yeah,” Graham said.

The death of the 86-year-old ayatollah poses a significant challenge to the existence of Iran’s Islamist government, marking one of the most consequential tests to the regime since its founding nearly 50 years ago. The Islamic Republic has seen only one other change of a supreme leader in 1989 after the death of its founder, Ruhollah Khomeini.

Graham framed the strike not as an attempt at regime change, but to instead cripple Iran’s military and terrorist capabilities.

“The goal of this operation is to change the threat, not the regime,” he said. “No matter who takes over in Iran, they will not have ballistic missiles to hurt us, Israel, or the region. They will not have the capability to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism.”

Pressed on who would determine Iran’s next leader, Graham insisted the decision would rest with the Iranian people, not President Donald Trump — nor will the U.S. be responsible for ensuring the next regime isn’t as brutal.

“It’s up to Iran to pick your leader. It’s not my job, it’s not President Trump's job. We’re not going to occupy the country,” Graham said. “We’re going to give the people of Iran a chance they’ve never had before: chart their own destiny.”

The senator also said he spoke to Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, about potential transition plans, emphasizing that there will be “no American boots on the ground” and cautioning Iranians to “choose wisely.”

“We want to be your friend. We’d like to have a good relationship with you going forward, but that is up to you.”

As for next steps, Graham said that once Iran’s current leadership is removed, he plans to pivot toward reshaping regional alliances.

“When this regime is down I will work my ass off with Democrats to build on what Biden tried to do: to get Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel,” Graham said. “We can’t do it until the terrorist regime in Iran is replaced, and we are very, very close.”