US Senator Graham rejects Iran offer, backs diplomacy with pressure

<article data-history-node-id="439516" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-senator-graham-rejects-iran-offer-backs-diplomacy-pressure" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-senator-graham-rejects-iran-offer-backs-diplomacy-pressure" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">US Senator Graham rejects Iran offer, backs diplomacy with pressure</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>US Senator Lindsey Graham said Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict is “utterly ridiculous”, accusing Tehran of stalling in negotiations.</p> <p>In a post on X, he said Iran was “playing games” as talks continue.</p> <p>Graham also backed President Donald Trump’s maritime initiative, saying: “I fully agree with President Trump's decision to launch Operation Freedom, which aims to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and I hope that this conflict can be ended through diplomatic means."</p> <p>"However, it is now time to restore freedom of navigation and to respond forcefully to Iran if it insists on terrorizing the world,” he added.&nbsp;</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Totally agree with President Trump’s decision to launch Project Freedom, whose purpose is to restore freedom of navigation for the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for the world economy that has been locked down by Iranian terrorism.<br> <br> It is clear to me that Iran is playing… <a href="https://t.co/NGsEkTz56x">https://t.co/NGsEkTz56x</a></p> — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/2051053289186410759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> </div> </article>