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Graham: Iran will suffer ‘massive military attack’ Tuesday night without ‘capitulation’ from Tehran

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by Sophie Brams - 04/07/26 8:53 AM ET

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by Sophie Brams - 04/07/26 8:53 AM ET

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday that President Trump’s looming deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz marks a “defining moment” for the conflict and region, warning that Tehran will face a “massive military attack” if it does not agree to U.S. demands.

“This time tomorrow night, we’re going to have one or two scenarios: capitulation of [Iran’s] desire to rain terror on the world through diplomacy, or we’re going to have a massive military attack, destroying the regime’s capability to ever wage war again,” Graham told Fox News.

The South Carolina Republican, one of the most vocal congressional supporters of Operation Epic Fury, emphasized that any peace deal must ensure Iran can no longer exercise control over the vital shipping lane and eliminate the regime’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

“There can’t be one ounce of this 60 percent grade uranium left in Iran,” he said, suggesting the Islamic Republic currently has enough to make “eight or 10” nuclear bombs.

“They need to give it to us, or we need to take it,” Graham continued. “As to the Strait of Hormuz, when this is over, if they have the ability to control the straits in the future, I think the world will have failed, and I don’t think Trump’s going to let that happen.”

Trump has given the Islamic Republic until 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to lift its blockade on the passageway, threatening to unleash “all Hell” on the country by striking bridges and power plants if his deadline is not met.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, despite warnings that strikes on civilian infrastructure could violate international law.

The Iranian government has shown no indication of surrender to U.S. demands, with leaders promising to continue its retaliatory campaign against American and Israeli assets in the region.

“More than 14 million proud Iranians have so far registered to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote in a post early Tuesday on social platform X. “I too have been, am, and will remain devoted to giving my life for Iran.”

Iranian officials on Tuesday called on their people to form human chains around power plants to protect them against incoming attacks.

The strait, which carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply daily, has been Iran’s main point of leverage in the war, as the halt in tanker traffic continues to push oil prices above $100 per barrel.

The U.S. is seeking a 15-point peace plan to end the conflict, mediated through Pakistan, which would implement a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for Iran reopening the strait, among other demands.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran has conveyed it will only engage in peace talks once the U.S. and Israel halt their attacks and provide assurances another war will not occur.

While Graham said he prefers diplomacy, he has also strongly backed Trump’s ultimatum.

“If it’s not clear to Iran and others by now that President Trump means what he says then I don’t know when it will ever be,” Graham wrote Saturday on X. “Choose wisely.”

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