- South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham urged the administration to directly supply weapons to the Iranian populace, advocating for a "Second Amendment solution" to incite a grassroots revolution against the Tehran government.
- Graham's proposal was made during heightened U.S.-Iran hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting this approach would avoid deploying American troops and empower millions of Iranians to rise up.
- President Trump previously stated his administration attempted to send firearms to Iranian protesters during late December and January demonstrations, but alleged that Kurdish fighters intercepted and stole a significant portion of these weapons.
- Graham dismissed concerns about the Kurds potentially stealing weapons, suggesting the administration should find alternative channels to arm the Iranian people, while Kurdish groups have denied ever receiving such weapon deliveries from the U.S.
- Amidst escalating tensions, Iran warned that the U.S.'s "Project Freedom" could lead to a "Project Deadlock" and a new "quagmire," while President Trump issued a stark warning that Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it did not alter its behavior.
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