A Senate resolution introduced on Friday urges Washington and its allies to maintain a firm stance, ensuring that all possible options remain available against the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the bipartisan resolution was co-sponsored by Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Katie Britt (R-AL), alongside Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Mike Lawler (R-NY).
“If the Iranian Ayatollah and his henchman obtain a nuclear weapon, it would be one of the most destabilizing and dangerous events in world history,” Graham said in a statement. “They are trying to acquire a nuclear weapon as part of their religious agenda to purify their faith, destroy the Jewish State, and drive Westerners out of the Middle East.”
During his first term in 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew from the Obama-era JCPOA nuclear deal, demanding greater concessions from Tehran. The Biden administration later spent 18 months in indirect talks with Iran to negotiate a new agreement, but the effort failed. Now, Iran has enough enriched uranium to produce four to five nuclear warheads in a relatively short time.
The resolution does not explicitly authorize the use of military force, but it affirms that Iran’s nuclear ambitions must be met with strong opposition. It also calls on Iran to immediately cease uranium enrichment, the development of nuclear warheads, and the possession of delivery systems capable of carrying such weapons.
Although Trump and his aides have taken a tough stance on Iran's nuclear threat, they have not outlined their plans for the coming months. It remains to be seen whether he will tighten economic sanctions or pursue negotiations.
Fetterman stressed the urgency of the issue, saying that “Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is a threat we cannot ignore.” He added, “The United States, Israel, and our allies cannot afford to sit back while the Iranian regime continues down this dangerous path. This resolution sends an unmistakable message: all options are on the table to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.”
Britt doubled down, insisting that a firm foreign policy is the key to keeping Iran in check. “Peace is achieved through strength, and our resolution sends an important bipartisan message to Iran that the US will not tolerate Tehran’s aggression,” she said.
Moskowitz described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an unacceptable escalation that poses a direct threat to the security of the US and its allies. “Iran must dismantle its nuclear program now. This resolution makes clear the United States won’t stand for anything less and will consider all options to protect our national security,” he said.
Lawler also warned of the consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran, calling it a danger “not only to our closest ally, Israel but also to the whole world.” He added, “We must keep all options on the table when it comes to dealing with this unprecedented situation.”
Also on Friday, an exiled Iranian opposition group presented what it described as evidence that Tehran is secretly developing nuclear-capable warheads for missiles capable of reaching Europe.
At a press conference in Washington, DC, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) pointed to the Shahroud missile site in northeastern Iran, where it said the Islamic Republic is working on nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range of over 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles).
The NCRI attributed the information to its network of sources inside Iran but did not provide further details on the evidence.
