Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in a series of tweets on Friday has urged the Pentagon not to think of a limited response to Iran in the wake of attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
Graham who had urged a militarily response against Iran one day after the September 14 attacks, criticized President Donald Trump on September 17 for not having ordered a retaliation.
In today’s tweets Graham, who is a supporter of the president, does not directly criticize Trump but directs his words to “Pentagon planners”, urging them to offer the president a wide range of options.
“When it comes to Iran we have lost deterrence. To Pentagon planners: a weak response over this outrageous Iranian aggression only invites more aggression. It will also eventually lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Be Strong Now or pay a Bigger Price Later”, Graham wrote in one tweet.
Concern has risen among analysts and the media that president Trump is hesitating, which Iran can use to portray itself as the dominant power in the Middle East.
Tehran has denied any involvement in the highly coordinated attack by at least 17 missiles and drones on key oil installations, but the U.S. says the attack was launched from Southern Iran and Saudis have displayed wreckage of weapons it says are Iranian made.
In another tweet Graham calls for "punishing" Iran and restoring deterrence.
I hope (but have my doubts) that Pentagon planners are giving President Trump a wide range of options that would punish Iran and restore deterrence. There are steps between being weak and total war.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 20, 2019