Graham Holds Press Conference in Tel Aviv on Iranian Protests and the Future of Iran

[00:00:00] Their [00:00:01] economy is in shambles. Their military [00:00:03] has been degraded. Their people in the [00:00:05] streets, Iranian people in the streets [00:00:08] demanding an end to oppression. All [00:00:11] these forces are coming together. We [00:00:13] must meet the moment. If this regime [00:00:16] falls in the coming weeks or months, two [00:00:18] things will attribute to it. October [00:00:21] 7th. [00:00:22] Without October 7th, I do not believe [00:00:25] this regime would be as weak as it is [00:00:27] today. What happened on October 7th was [00:00:30] horrible. It's horrific and it will be [00:00:33] part of the Israeli [00:00:36] the pe the people of Israel's history as [00:00:39] long as they're the people of Israel. [00:00:42] But your determination out of the ashes [00:00:44] of October 7th to give new meaning to [00:00:47] never again to go on the offensive to [00:00:49] weaken the Iranian regime and their [00:00:51] proxies is paying dividends. The [00:00:54] response of Israel after October 7th to [00:00:57] make [00:00:58] again was credible has led to the [00:01:00] weakest regime in Iran since 1979. The [00:01:05] second event, the rise of the people. [00:01:08] The people in Iran have gone to the [00:01:10] streets without weapons, maybe 30,000 [00:01:13] more killed to demand an end to their [00:01:16] oppression. These two events, the [00:01:18] bravery of the people of Iran who [00:01:20] saying, "I've had it. I want change." [00:01:24] The response to Israel [00:01:26] have led the potential demise of the [00:01:30] I can't think of a more satisfying event [00:01:33] for me person and see the good people of [00:01:36] Iran to be able to get their country [00:01:38] back to live in a place where they [00:01:40] didn't have to worry about their [00:01:42] daughter being murdered because she [00:01:44] didn't wear the headscarf ride on a bus [00:01:47] being able to be part of the world not [00:01:49] isolated from the world being able to [00:01:52] embrace the light not be overshadowed by [00:01:54] the darkness I for today when Israel no [00:01:58] longer has to fear a nuclear weapon [00:02:01] being developed by the Iranian regime. [00:02:03] The best answer to all the problems [00:02:06] created by Iran is regime change. The [00:02:09] best answer is for the people to take [00:02:11] the place of the I do not believe [00:02:14] they're in the streets to build more [00:02:15] nuclear weapons. I think they're in the [00:02:17] streets to have a better life. I don't [00:02:20] think they're in the streets to purify [00:02:21] Islam and destroy Israel and come after [00:02:24] us to break Satan. [00:02:26] in the streets have normaly in a life [00:02:28] that's not normal. So my view is the [00:02:32] risk of regime change is real [00:02:38] unknowns. But let me just say this. I'm [00:02:40] willing to take that risk. I think the [00:02:43] Iranian people have the potential to be [00:02:45] a great ally of the United States, [00:02:47] Israel, and the region. I think as long [00:02:50] as he's alive and around, will be [00:02:51] chained death to America. [00:02:54] be trying to enact a religious agenda of [00:02:59] purify Islam will come after us. These [00:03:02] are religious wanted to master race [00:03:07] master religion. We're not going to give [00:03:09] it to them. We're going to fight back to [00:03:12] the brave people of Israel. I know [00:03:13] you're hurt very hard, very wide, very [00:03:16] deep. [00:03:17] Here to tell you, we're on the verge [00:03:20] of eliminating [00:03:22] the largest responsive terrorism in the [00:03:24] region. The fall of Iran comes the [00:03:27] follow [00:03:35] if the survival got the region. So my [00:03:42] presence here today is to reassure the [00:03:44] Israeli people. There is no light [00:03:48] or gaps between President Trump about [00:03:51] what to do and how to do it. There are [00:03:55] two lines in the water right now. One's [00:03:58] a diplomatic line trying to find a way [00:04:00] to end this regime diplomatically that [00:04:03] will advance our national security [00:04:05] interest. The other line is the military [00:04:07] option. I think President Trump looking [00:04:10] for which line can catch the biggest [00:04:11] fish. [00:04:13] Bottom line is we're in the weak lines [00:04:15] in terms of decision making. The rainy [00:04:18] people are hanging off. I attended a [00:04:21] rally of 250,000 people in Munich. It's [00:04:24] one of the most satisfying experiences [00:04:25] of my professional life to have 250,000 [00:04:29] people know who I was and appreciate [00:04:32] what I was doing. [00:04:34] Apparently, I'm referred to as [00:04:37] apparently that's a good thing. [00:04:39] But this hat [00:04:42] make great again [00:04:45] says a lot. [00:04:49] By the way, the idea of making hate [00:04:53] is not with us, but she thought this [00:04:56] would be a good branding and she was [00:04:57] right. And this hat one day would go to [00:05:00] Toronto [00:05:02] to the people of Toron and President [00:05:04] Trump when asked about what this hat [00:05:06] means. says he says he says I think what [00:05:10] Senator Graham is trying to say is that [00:05:12] the best way to make great again to the [00:05:16] people not the [00:05:18] I think he's right. So my hope is that [00:05:21] in the coming weeks if we can't find a [00:05:24] diplomatic solution that we engage in a [00:05:27] great endeavor supporting the people of [00:05:30] Iran demanding their freedom to the end [00:05:32] of their oppression. [00:05:34] We have military capab to none. There's [00:05:38] no more clever nation on the planet than [00:05:40] Israel. There's no more powerful nation [00:05:43] on the planet than the United States. As [00:05:46] to the Iranian regime, you're weak [00:05:47] because of your ideas. You're weak [00:05:50] because of the way you treated your [00:05:51] people. You're weak because you're evil. [00:05:55] Eventually, good will replace evil in [00:05:57] Iran. [00:05:59] To those who may participate in this [00:06:02] endeavor, [00:06:03] God bless you. keep you safe if that day [00:06:07] does come. Could our soldiers be hit in [00:06:10] the region? Absolutely they could. Can [00:06:13] Iran respond if we have an allout [00:06:15] attack? Absolutely they can. I think the [00:06:18] risk associated that with that is far [00:06:20] less than the risk associated with [00:06:22] blinking and pulling the plug and not [00:06:25] helping the people as you promised. [00:06:27] We told them to go back in the street, [00:06:29] keep protesting, help us on the way. We [00:06:32] have to be good to our work. So [00:06:36] this trip is a special trip for me. It's [00:06:39] putting a fine point on something I've [00:06:41] been working on for over two years. I [00:06:43] leave from here to go to United Arab [00:06:45] Emirates. BB wanted me to tell the press [00:06:50] that he's amazed by the level of [00:06:52] cooperation and the significance of the [00:06:55] partnership United with Israel. NBC has [00:06:59] done everything to ask and then they've [00:07:02] been a stalward partner, reliable [00:07:04] partner under difficult circumstances. [00:07:06] And I want to go there tomorrow and [00:07:09] acknowledge [00:07:11] NBC's leadership and suggest that [00:07:13] America improved its capability to [00:07:16] defend the United Arab Emirates and the [00:07:18] region. I will then go to Saudi Arabia. [00:07:21] I believe that the crown prince still [00:07:23] has the same vision for the region he [00:07:25] did before October 7th. October 7th has [00:07:28] taken its toll and at the end of the day [00:07:32] if the regime is still standing after [00:07:34] all this cluster October 7th was a [00:07:37] strategic win for Iran [00:07:40] Islam. If the regime falls as a result [00:07:43] of the pressure put on the regime by [00:07:46] Israel and the United States after [00:07:47] October 7th combined with the uprising [00:07:50] people life [00:07:53] and that would be the biggest change in [00:07:55] the Middle East in a thousand years. [00:07:58] I am leaving here confident the [00:08:02] capability the United States and Israel [00:08:05] if called upon [00:08:07] to deliver a decisive blow to the [00:08:09] Iranian regime. I am hopeful that [00:08:13] diplomacy may prevail yet. Either way, [00:08:17] our date with history, our date with the [00:08:20] new destiny for the Middle East is upon [00:08:23] us. [00:08:28] Senator [00:08:36] United States [00:08:40] regarding [00:08:41] >> Yes. [00:08:54] >> President Trump's very good [00:08:57] making sure people don't play [00:09:00] deadines. [00:09:07] Bottom line is I don't mind diplomacy as [00:09:09] long as it's done in a way to get the [00:09:12] outcome. [00:09:14] I know President Trump is allowing his [00:09:16] diplomatic team which I support but he [00:09:20] also has on the table another option [00:09:22] that Gerald Ford is standing this way. I [00:09:25] don't think [00:09:27] better weather. Time will tell what [00:09:30] happens. President Trump has done a [00:09:33] masterful job, I think, of weakening the [00:09:36] regime without getting us the United [00:09:38] States further entangled in big. [00:09:41] Israel's done an incredible job after [00:09:43] October 7 to give new meaning to the [00:09:46] term never again by going after the [00:09:49] enemies of Israel where they reside [00:09:52] in the most clever way [00:09:54] sometimes the most brutal way that's [00:09:57] what it takes to survive in this region [00:10:03] thank you [00:10:06] question as well one on Gaza please [00:10:10] appear that United States plans to take [00:10:14] a stepby-step approach towards uh the [00:10:17] disarm. [00:10:18] Can you confirm that and how [00:10:21] >> I I don't know. I know that the [00:10:22] president has told me President Trump [00:10:25] that they don't disarm [00:10:27] they're playing the game. So I don't [00:10:30] know if we put on a time limit time [00:10:32] clock. I wish we would disarm ourselves [00:10:35] in x amount of days. That seems to be [00:10:38] the best way to get results. [00:10:41] Do I think Hamas will disarm without [00:10:43] being made to do so? No. Do I think [00:10:46] there's a regional force in the region [00:10:48] that could come in disarm [00:10:52] against their wishes? No. I think this [00:10:55] either going to take pressure to get to [00:10:58] disarm [00:10:59] from the region or Israel's going to [00:11:01] have to go back in and wipe them out. [00:11:04] The sooner we get an answer to those [00:11:06] questions, the better. I don't see how [00:11:08] you develop in a real meaningful way. [00:11:11] you still have elements of armed within [00:11:15] the area and it's hard to sell a condo [00:11:17] for say $3 million with a good ocean [00:11:20] view if right down the road there's a [00:11:22] neighborhood controlled by M that's not [00:11:25] investment I would make [00:11:26] >> and the second question if I may [00:11:31] also ask for the solution [00:11:34] >> I I mean the you know the annexation [00:11:36] steps the steps towards that the Israeli [00:11:39] government has taken I'm hoping [00:11:41] How is it playing with the [00:11:43] >> I'm hoping, you know, the plan was to [00:11:45] get to disarm. That's been a month ago. [00:11:47] They're clearly not interested in [00:11:49] disarming. You know, the pace of this is [00:11:51] slow. I get it. Border peace. Maybe it [00:11:54] works. But I know that she'll never have [00:11:55] peace in the Middle East. [00:11:58] You'll never have a solution to the [00:12:00] problem of terrorism that Israel faces [00:12:03] war. [00:12:07] Thank you very much. [00:12:10] There's no light between what President [00:12:12] Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu want. [00:12:16] That's what he told me. [00:12:17] >> Well, you say that President Trump wants [00:12:20] first of all to try and get a diplomatic [00:12:22] solution to this. So, [00:12:25] as you spoke to him today, what does he [00:12:27] want? [00:12:27] >> Well, they have been very clear about [00:12:29] what a diplomatic solution would have to [00:12:34] deal. No deal will go through the [00:12:36] process without coming to Congress. I [00:12:39] you as a member of the Senate I will [00:12:42] fairly evaluating deal but I'm skeptical [00:12:46] that would limit Iran's capability given [00:12:48] their behavior it's kind of late in the [00:12:51] process [00:12:52] to cheat but the Senate would like to [00:12:55] say about whether or not it's a good [00:12:56] deal or a bad deal so that's what the [00:12:58] process works I'm just telling what told [00:13:01] me [00:13:04] Daniel nice to see you here [00:13:09] has spoken about tapering off US [00:13:12] military in 10 years. [00:13:14] >> You've spoken about a quicker time. How [00:13:16] quickly do you want to [00:13:17] >> I think what his [clears throat] plan is [00:13:19] to replace the money of 3 something [00:13:21] billion with an investment in new [00:13:23] technology rather than just writing you [00:13:25] a check you know the idea he wants to [00:13:28] create a partnership outside the number. [00:13:33] I like that idea. The wars of the future [00:13:36] are being planned here in Israel because [00:13:39] if you're not one step ahead of the [00:13:40] enemy, you suffer. The most clever [00:13:44] creative military forces on the planet [00:13:46] are here in Israel because they have to [00:13:48] be to survive. So what we're looking at [00:13:50] is that Israel is advancing down the [00:13:52] road to new weaponry far beyond us. And [00:13:56] it would be nice to have a a process [00:13:59] where we could be partners. [00:14:04] Thank you for being here. [00:14:08] I'm trying to understand based on your [00:14:10] conversation with Prime Minister [00:14:11] Netanyahu and President Trump. Are we [00:14:13] closer to a deal with Iran or closer? [00:14:18] What will be negotiating more keep it [00:14:22] nuclear program? [00:14:23] >> Israel's worried about ballistic missile [00:14:25] programs support for regional terrorism [00:14:28] and the nuclear program. I'm worried [00:14:30] about all three. [00:14:32] The track record of Iran is abysmal when [00:14:34] it comes to keeping their word. [00:14:37] You got to understand who you're doing. [00:14:39] The Ayatollah wants to do three things. [00:14:42] He wants to purify Islam, which means [00:14:44] Saudi Arabia has to [00:14:48] he wants to destroy the state of Israel [00:14:50] because he thinks are evil. That the [00:14:53] Jews should not have a state that God [00:14:56] commands him to kill all the Jews. He [00:14:58] wants to come after the United States, [00:15:00] my country. [00:15:03] Well, I believe he believes all three. I [00:15:06] believe if he had a nuclear weapon, he [00:15:08] would use it to advance his religious [00:15:10] cause. Israel can't be afford to be [00:15:13] wrong about this. So, when I look at the [00:15:16] Ayatollah, I take the man at his word. [00:15:18] He's a religious Nazi. And the answer [00:15:20] to, you know, controlling religion, no. [00:15:26] You know, the answer to [00:15:28] insisting that the United States [00:15:31] our will to the odds that [00:15:37] question. [00:15:39] Um you mentioned you're going to Saudi [00:15:41] Arabia. Are you concerned with what some [00:15:44] Israeli officials and um some US Jewish [00:15:49] organizations have raised as [00:15:51] anti-semitic stance that Saudi Arabia [00:15:53] has been [00:15:54] >> I'm concerned about some of the rhetoric [00:15:56] being directed toward the United Arab [00:15:58] Emirates. The one take away My visit to [00:16:01] Israel is how the Israeli leadership and [00:16:04] the military and the civilian side have [00:16:06] such high opinions of NBC as a leader [00:16:11] and UAE as a country just everybody [00:16:14] wanted me to know that these people [00:16:18] United Arab Emirates and NBC have been a [00:16:20] trusted and great ally. Uh I've got to [00:16:24] know MBS pretty well. I think his vision [00:16:28] for the region of integration and [00:16:30] economic growth and AI dominance can [00:16:34] only happen with it with the region not [00:16:37] on perpetual fire. As long as the around [00:16:41] is up to no good. If the regime does [00:16:44] collapse because the demand of the [00:16:46] people then I think this region will [00:16:49] explode in a good way. [00:16:52] If still standing, it will explode in a [00:16:55] bad way. But if we do answer the call of [00:16:59] the Iranian people to help them in their [00:17:00] time of great stress and the regime [00:17:04] falls, I think we have tremendous [00:17:06] opportunity nobody could even dreamed of [00:17:08] a couple years ago. [00:17:10] >> And another question, President Trump [00:17:12] recently called Israeli president [00:17:14] disgraceful [00:17:15] >> for not yet pardoning prime minister. [00:17:19] >> Well, I'll I'll leave that up to [00:17:22] hope they can resolve that issue. But [00:17:25] one thing that President Trump said [00:17:27] Saturday, [00:17:29] do you want regime change in Iran? He [00:17:31] said, "Well, it seems like that would be [00:17:34] the best thing that could happen." For [00:17:37] 47 years, they've been talking and [00:17:41] talking and talking and in the meantime, [00:17:45] we lost a lot of lives. [00:17:48] So, let's see what happens. I think [00:17:50] that's a great description before we [00:17:52] stand. [00:17:53] >> Do you think prime minister should be [00:17:55] the pardon? [00:17:56] >> Do you think the prime minister should [00:17:57] be [00:17:58] >> here? Seems to me that [00:18:01] all the attention I don't know what your [00:18:02] legal system's like, but for a defendant [00:18:05] to have to go and talk for two years [00:18:07] about a case is a bit [00:18:10] >> Jewish in um [00:18:14] do you actually think that diplomacy [00:18:16] with Iran could lead to the regime? [00:18:18] >> I think I support the idea of getting [00:18:20] outcome and the diplomacy lines in the [00:18:23] water. I think it will bear fruit based [00:18:27] on the behavior that regime in the past [00:18:29] know maybe this is a new time we won't [00:18:31] know [00:18:32] >> if diplomacy does not succeed how do you [00:18:36] regime change is it taking out the [00:18:40] >> I think I think the regime will collapse [00:18:43] with sustained pressure it's so weak you [00:18:46] know they fly [00:18:48] a lot's happened [00:18:54] a great movie, but it's made. So, I [00:18:57] don't like their chances in the sky. [00:18:59] They have a lot of ballistic missiles [00:19:01] that could hurt us. They could do damage [00:19:03] to Israel, but every day they go by the [00:19:05] war, they get less capable, we get more [00:19:08] because we have such a dominant [00:19:10] advantage. There there is risk [00:19:13] associated with taking the regime out [00:19:17] but the risk compared to the risk of [00:19:19] doing nothing. [00:19:22] >> When you were in Munich you were [00:19:24] alongside [00:19:26] the do you think that he would be the [00:19:28] right person to come in? [00:19:30] >> I think he'll be one of the right people [00:19:31] but the right person for the right group [00:19:34] to be chosen by the Iranian people. You [00:19:36] know everybody asked me what happens [00:19:38] next. I don't think the Iranians are in [00:19:40] the street. would like to be oppressed [00:19:42] more. Seems to me they want less, not [00:19:45] more. Doesn't seem to me that they are [00:19:48] out in the streets to build a nuclear [00:19:50] weapon and blow everybody up. Seems to [00:19:52] me they're being out they're out in the [00:19:54] streets to just demand a better life, [00:19:56] better food, better housing, better [00:19:59] living conditions, not live in a country [00:20:01] so wicked and you know sick. Really, [00:20:05] nothing describes the darkness better [00:20:07] than the Iranian regime under the [00:20:11] Nothing explains the light better than [00:20:14] the protesters in Iran and the IDF and [00:20:19] associated groups who taken the fight to [00:20:22] radical Islam after October 7. They [00:20:25] represent the best in humanity. [00:20:29] Okay. [00:20:31] military option alone can honestly [00:20:33] overthrow this regime. Do you honestly [00:20:35] believe that the military option by [00:20:36] itself can over [00:20:39] the regime is it lose its power? [00:20:43] How do you do it? You kill the people [00:20:45] who do the killing. [00:20:47] See if the next guy wants to volunteer [00:20:49] knowing what happened to one before. You [00:20:51] decapitate the regime. You go after the [00:20:54] infrastructure that allows them to [00:20:55] torment the people and you stay [00:20:58] committed and you stay determined and [00:21:01] the people are out in the streets. [00:21:04] They're in the homes. I think we have a [00:21:07] wonderful opportunity, magical [00:21:09] opportunity to end the terrorism caused [00:21:11] by the regime. Again, two things. [00:21:15] Response to Israel after October 7th has [00:21:17] gotten us to this point because they've [00:21:19] been pounding the hell out of [00:21:22] the people. are in the streets with [00:21:24] their life. Those two things together I [00:21:27] think are the best explanation as to why [00:21:30] regime changes like [00:21:32] >> wouldn't it entail American troops on [00:21:34] the ground? [00:21:35] >> We don't need American troops on the [00:21:37] ground, but we need America [00:21:39] understanding the threats over here can [00:21:42] come home. 19 hijackers in Saudi Arabia [00:21:46] killed 3,000 Americans. The only reason [00:21:48] they killed more didn't find a way to [00:21:49] kill more. [clears throat] So you got to [00:21:51] have some of us [00:21:52] We don't need boots on the ground in [00:21:54] Iran. We need to partner with Israel if [00:21:57] we do a military operation to make sure [00:21:59] we get the highest and best benefit of [00:22:00] our capabilities. Um to those who [00:22:04] believe you should confront evil, you're [00:22:06] right. Those who believe it doesn't [00:22:08] exist, you're wrong. To those who want [00:22:11] peace, it never works. We got a chance [00:22:13] here to stop this regime. Israel would [00:22:16] judge yours poorly. We let the law off [00:22:18] the hook. How many times could we have [00:22:21] stopped Hitler? A bunch. Somebody [00:22:24] probably asked in 1935 what would look [00:22:26] like if you killed Hitler. I wish [00:22:28] somebody [00:22:29] successfully [00:22:31] killing the [00:22:34] represents evil to me. What do you think [00:22:38] about [00:22:48] >> I think it's not lost upon anybody [00:22:50] military capability [00:22:52] United States to supplement what our [00:22:54] friends in Israel have if we have to use [00:22:56] military options to anybody who believes [00:22:59] that the Ayatollah can withstand all of [00:23:01] this and stay in power and not affect [00:23:04] the United States you're wrong. [00:23:07] If this man the Anata and his regime [00:23:09] survive all this fluster then not only [00:23:13] does one not go away to come back [00:23:16] stronger the likelihood of normalization [00:23:19] under those conditions is zero the Arabs [00:23:22] will go back in their corner trying to [00:23:24] get a better deal with Putin and Ukraine [00:23:26] goes to zero you'll see how we said one [00:23:29] thing and did another in the Middle East [00:23:31] it will affect us in Russia Ukraine will [00:23:33] make it more likely China will take [00:23:35] Taiwan The opposite is true too. If we [00:23:37] follow through, if we have to, and we [00:23:40] deliver decisive working with the [00:23:42] Iranian people to end this nightmare, [00:23:45] then a new dawn breaks, something that [00:23:48] nobody even envisioned two years ago, [00:23:50] becomes more likely than not. Thank you.