Senate Graham says European allies have ‘gone pathetically soft’ over Iran response by Sarah Davis - 02/28/26 1:23 PM ET by Sarah Davis - 02/28/26 1:23 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) slammed three European heads of state over their response to the latest strikes against Iran , calling the reaction “so sad.” The U.S. military launched the joint military operation , dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” with Israeli forces early Saturday morning. President Trump announced the attack in a video posted to Truth Social overnight, saying the U.S. is seeking to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” In a letter released following the strikes, the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom urged the two countries to deescalate, and resume talks over its embattled nuclear program. “We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution,” the leaders wrote. “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.” Graham, a staunch supporter of military intervention in Iran, suggested he was more than “disappointed” by the letter, adding that the word would be “an understatement.” “To the leaders of France, Germany and the UK: the Iranian people are not wrong to demand the end to their oppression from the bloodthirsty ayatollah’s regime that has American and European blood on their hands,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in a lengthy post on social platform X.  “You collectively are the ones that are wrong by refusing to come to the Iranian people’s aid and adding insult to injury, you’re suggesting we should continue to negotiate with religious Nazis,” he continued. “It is pathetic. How far Western Europe has fallen.” The senator, known as one of the Senate’s top war hawks, ended his response with a direct message to protesters of the Iranian regime, saying, “President Trump heard your cries. Help has arrived in large measure.” “To our European allies: you have gone pathetically soft and lost your zeal for confronting evil apparently unless it’s on your front porch,” he added. “So sad.” His comments come as the United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting about the strikes at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, following a call from French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron condemned the attacks earlier Saturday, echoing the outcry from other nations about risks of a wider war in the aftermath of the military operation. Lawmakers’ support and opposition to the strikes have mostly fallen along party lines. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Emmanuel Macron European Union France Germany Iran nuclear program Israel Lindsey Graham Senate GOP Trump administration U.S. strikes in Iran U.S.-Iran talks United Kingdom Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Senate News See All Senate Democrats say Trump hasn’t learned lessons of history, has no strategic endgame with Iran strikes by Rebecca Beitsch and Ian Swanson 4 hours ago Senate  /  4 hours ago