Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham gave what amounts to a green light for Israeli action against Iran's nuclear program during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday, telling the Israeli leader to "do what you have to do" to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The South Carolina senator's comments, confirmed to Axios by his spokesperson, came during talks that included new Defense Minister Israel Katz. The meeting followed Israel's recent strike on Iran's Parchin military complex that destroyed key equipment needed for nuclear weapons development.
"I have never been more worried about an Iranian nuclear breakout than right now," Graham said after the meeting. "It is imperative that the United States is seen and heard as having Israel's back against the threat coming from Iran."
Graham's backing carries particular weight given his close ties to President-elect Trump, whom Netanyahu is actively courting for support of tougher action against Iran. Netanyahu's confidant Ron Dermer met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last Sunday for two hours, with Iran reportedly topping the agenda.
Israeli officials say the October strike on Parchin targeted sophisticated equipment needed to design the plastic explosives that surround uranium in a nuclear device. They described the equipment as a "bottleneck" in Iran's nuclear research program.
Iran has not yet retaliated for the strike, with Israeli officials suggesting Trump's election victory may have caused Tehran to reconsider its response. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintains that "Iran is not after nuclear weapons, period."
Tensions could soon escalate further, as the UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors prepares to vote on censuring Iran for lack of cooperation. Tehran has warned it may respond by advancing its nuclear program, potentially including enriching uranium to 90% weapons-grade level.
There is growing concern in Jerusalem and Washington over Iran's nuclear ambitions, despite Tehran's continued denials of seeking atomic weapons.
Axios contributed to this article.
