Senator Lankford: US Winning Iran Conflict, But Work Remains

US Claims Victory in Iran Conflict Amid Ongoing Operations

Senator James Lankford stated that the United States is currently winning its conflict with Iran, emphasizing that key military objectives have been achieved. Speaking on “Meet the Press,” the Republican senator affirmed President Trump’s assertion that the U.S. is on a path to victory. “There is no question about that,” Lankford said regarding the progress made. The primary goals, according to Lankford, were to halt Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production, stop its nuclear program, and prevent Iran from disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. While these military aims have been significantly impacted, he cautioned that “there’s still work to be done and not over by any means.”

Regime Change Not the Primary US Goal, Says Senator

Despite the ongoing conflict, the current Iranian regime remains in power, with its Supreme Leader recently killed and his son reportedly taking over. When asked if a victory is possible with the current regime still in place, Senator Lankford clarified the administration’s focus. “This is about the nuclear program and stopping the missile program and opening the Strait of Hormuz permanently,” he explained. He added that while the U.S. would prefer to see freedom for the Iranian people, the immediate objective is not regime change. “Iran is not going to bring in Thomas Jefferson to be able to lead Iran,” Lankford noted, highlighting the long-standing threat Iran has posed for nearly five decades. He pointed to past attacks, including the Marine Barracks bombing in Lebanon and Houthi actions against ships, as examples of Iran’s consistent aggression.

Addressing Missile Arsenal and Troop Deployment

Reports suggest that the U.S. has only confirmed the destruction of about a third of Iran’s missile arsenal, falling short of administration claims of higher destruction rates. Senator Lankford distinguished between missiles and their launchers, stating that the focus has been on destroying the launchers. “You can’t launch the missile without the launcher itself,” he said. The strategy involves dismantling Iran’s missile production capabilities and targeting launchers to prevent attacks on the U.S. and its allies. Regarding troop deployment, Lankford agreed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that military objectives can be met without U.S. “boots on the ground.” However, he acknowledged President Trump’s decision to send additional troops, including Marines and forces from the 82nd Airborne, as a tactic to increase pressure on Iran to negotiate. “The President’s right to be able to put troops in the area and to be able to ratchet up the pressure on Iran to make a deal,” Lankford stated.

Congressional Approval and Military Operations

The question of whether President Trump would need congressional approval for deploying troops to Iran was also discussed. Lankford differentiated between a prolonged war requiring approval and a mission to protect Americans. “If this is to protect Americans and to be able to be in there, it’s very different,” he explained. He emphasized that the goal is not to occupy Iran or engage in a long-term war. “We’re not trying to go in and be able to occupy the country or to have a long-standing, long-term war.” When President Trump referred to the conflict as a “military operation” to avoid needing congressional approval, Lankford disagreed, stating, “I would say the people of Iran believe this is a war.” He noted that congressional engagement typically occurs when supplemental funding requests are made. “When additional funding requests comes in, Congress will have to speak to talk about how far, what the plans are and what they’ll do.”

Sanctions Relief and Global Oil Market

The interview touched upon the temporary waiver of sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil, intended to ease supply shocks caused by the conflict. Senator Lankford addressed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s concerns that this relief could benefit Russia. “President Putin is certainly not the big winner here,” Lankford asserted. He pointed out that the U.S. has taken action to prevent Iran from supplying one-way attack drones to Russia, which he identified as a major Russian weapon. The sanctions lifted were on oil already in transit, a move designed to manage global oil prices while simultaneously targeting the Iranian regime. “This is a very difficult balancing act,” he said, emphasizing that the U.S. is not unilaterally lifting sanctions on Russia, which he believes should remain under significant sanctions.

Homeland Security Funding Debate

The conversation shifted to the funding dispute for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was facing a shutdown. Senator Lankford explained the Republican perspective, stating that Democrats are unwilling to fund agencies like ICE and CBP and prefer open borders. He highlighted a previous bipartisan bill that pre-funded ICE and CBP for three years, anticipating such funding disputes. “We knew there would be a day that Democrats would not want to fund ICE or CBP at all,” he remarked. Lankford criticized the demands made by Democrats, including restrictions on ICE at polling places and the use of body cameras solely for prosecuting agents, not for holding others accountable. He also mentioned limitations proposed for where Border Patrol could operate. “It’s been a very, very frustrating negotiation. We just want to get DHS back open again.”

Concerns Over Government Shutdowns and National Security

Lankford expressed frustration over the ongoing government shutdowns, especially given the heightened threat environment due to the conflict with Iran. He noted that cybersecurity professionals within DHS are currently unfunded, which is a significant concern during a period of international tension. “We need the cybersecurity professionals at their desk and they’re currently not being funded,” he stated. The senator advocated for a bipartisan bill he co-sponsored that aims to end government shutdowns permanently. “My focus is we should never, ever have government shutdowns on any of these areas,” Lankford concluded, emphasizing the need for continuous funding for essential government functions and federal workers.

Source: Sen. Lankford says U.S. is winning Iran war but ‘there’s still work to be done’: Full interview (YouTube)