In the wake of Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian military targets, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a forceful statement supporting Israel’s actions and condemning Iran’s role in regional and global instability.
“Israel’s attacks against Iran are so far successful and more than justified, and the United States stands firmly behind Israel,” Daines said Friday.
The strikes reportedly targeted key Iranian military infrastructure in retaliation for Tehran’s drone and missile assault on Israel in April. That attack, which involved hundreds of projectiles, was largely intercepted but marked a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nations and signaled a growing risk of wider conflict in the Middle East.
Daines emphasized Iran’s long-standing record of hostility toward the U.S. and its allies, linking the regime directly to the deaths of American troops and acts of terror against Israel.
“Iran is behind the deaths of hundreds of American troops and has targeted Israel and the United States for decades,” he said. “It funds and arms the Hamas and Hezbollah terror organizations that target Israel, including the October 7 attacks, which were the worst attacks on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
The senator also pointed to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which have drawn increasing concern from international watchdogs. Just this week, Iran reportedly revealed plans for a new, previously undisclosed nuclear enrichment site, a move the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned as a violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“Iran continued to develop its nuclear program while pretending to negotiate in good faith with the United States,” Daines said. “Even yesterday it announced it would begin work on a secret nuclear enrichment site it never disclosed to U.N. inspectors.”
Daines urged a return to a more aggressive posture toward Tehran, suggesting the Islamic Republic should yield to the terms of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy.
“Iran should accept President Trump’s terms and surrender. It is the only option,” Daines stated.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have surged in recent months, with cross-border strikes and proxy activity across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s security, even as officials warn of the risk of a broader regional war. Senator Daines’ comments place him among the more hawkish voices in Congress advocating for a strong and unequivocal U.S. stance alongside Israel.
By: Montana Newsroom staff
