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Senator Lindsey Graham Calls for Direct Attack on Iran’s Oil Infrastructure to Halt Terrorism
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a recent interview with Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham articulated a bold strategy to curb terrorist attacks against Israel. Graham emphasized that Israel should hold Iran solely accountable for the actions of its proxies, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and proposed a direct assault on Iran’s economic lifeline to deter future terrorism.
Senator Graham highlighted the extensive financial and logistical support that Iran provides to various terrorist organizations operating in the Middle East. “When we say that Hezbollah or Hamas or the Houthis attacked Israel, what we are really saying is that this was a direct assault on the Jewish State by Iran,” Graham stated. He underscored that Iran’s involvement goes beyond mere sponsorship; it encompasses comprehensive support for these groups, enabling their continued aggression against Israel.
Graham’s proposed solution is both direct and strategic: targeting Iran’s oil refineries. He argued that the cessation of oil production, which constitutes the primary source of revenue for Iran, would significantly impact its ability to fund terrorist activities. “The only deterrent to this onslaught of terrorism directed at Israel is if Israel were to launch a direct attack on Iran’s oil refineries,” Graham explained. By crippling Iran’s oil industry, he believes that the financial pipeline supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis would be effectively severed, leading to a cessation of terrorist activities.
According to Graham, the leadership in Iran is more concerned about the disruption of oil production than the loss of individual terrorist leaders, who are seen as replaceable. “The Ayatollahs in Iran could care less if a few members of the leadership of Hamas and Hezbollah are killed,” Graham noted. “What they do care about is the cessation of oil production in their country. Through its oil profits does Iran bankroll its terror proxies. If their source of oil income is stopped, the terrorism will stop.”
Iran has many oil refineries located in different parts of the country, including:
Abadan Refinery: Located in Abadan, Iran, near the Persian Gulf coast.
Abadan I cracking refinery: Located in Khuzestan, Iran, and operated by National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution. This refinery became operational in 1912 and has a CDU capacity of 399mbd.
Bandar Abbas Oil Refinery: Also known as Refinery No. 8, this refinery is located near the city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.
Abolfares Oil Refining Co. (APRICO): Located in Tehran.
Isfahan cracking refinery: Located in Iran
Graham also touched on the ideological motivations behind Iran’s support for terrorism, suggesting that the Iranian leadership is driven by a religious imperative to target Israel. He claimed that Iran’s leaders interpret the tenets of the Koran as obligating them to seek the annihilation of Israel and Jews. This religious mission, according to Graham, intensifies the threat posed by Iran and its proxies.
Graham has been vocal about his stance since the October 7th assault by Hamas terrorists, which he described as “an Israeli 9/11.” The attack resulted in the massacre of 1,200 Israelis and others, with an additional 251 individuals abducted and taken into Hamas captivity in Gaza. In the immediate aftermath, Graham advocated for stronger measures against Iran, recognizing its pivotal role in enabling such acts of terrorism.
New Senate Bill Targets Iran’s Nuclear Program
Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill that would allow the President to use military force against Iran. pic.twitter.com/6AZwSeBQuQ
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) August 1, 2024
In an October 2023 interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” Graham outlined a bold and aggressive strategy to counter Iran’s influence and support for terrorism in the Middle East. Graham emphasized the need to hold Iran accountable for its role in supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and proposed a joint military strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure as a decisive measure.
Graham underscored that the recent attacks on Israel, including the devastating assault by Hamas on October 7th, could not have occurred without substantial financial and technological support, which he attributes to Iran. “We have a chance to reset here. This attack on Israel couldn’t have happened without a lot of money and technology and weapons. So it’s time to hold them [Iran] accountable,” Graham stated. He argued that escalating the conflict should lead to a joint attack on Iran’s oil infrastructure to “put them out of business.”
Graham’s remarks highlight Iran’s pivotal role in regional destabilization. He stressed that Iran’s financial support, technology, and weapons are crucial enablers for terrorist activities targeting Israel and other nations. By targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure, which is the primary source of revenue for these activities, Graham believes that the financial lifeline sustaining terrorism can be severed.
When asked if the potential killing of more hostages should be a red line for President Biden, Graham criticized the Biden administration’s approach to Iran as “naive as hell.” He characterized Iran’s leadership as “religious Nazis” and urged for a more robust and immediate response. “Listen to the language coming from the Ayatollah and his henchmen. They want to purify Islam in their own image. Saudi Arabia is at risk here. They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to kill all of the Jews and come after us,” Graham asserted.
Graham proposed a clear and firm stance: any escalation by Iran should be met with direct action. He suggested that the Biden administration should communicate unequivocally to Iran that any further escalation would result in military retaliation. “If I were the Biden administration, I would tell Iranians ‘any escalation at all [means] we’re coming after you,'” Graham said.
Graham’s strategy focuses on crippling Iran’s economic capacity to fund and support terrorism through targeted strikes on its oil infrastructure. This approach not only aims to halt the immediate threat posed by terrorist groups but also seeks to undermine Iran’s broader ambitions in the region. By eliminating the financial resources generated from oil production, the hope is to significantly weaken Iran’s ability to project power and support proxy groups.
Graham’s comments also underscore the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East. He pointed out that Iran’s ambitions extend beyond Israel, posing a threat to regional stability, including to Saudi Arabia. The proposed military action against Iran’s oil infrastructure is intended not only to protect Israel but also to safeguard other nations from Iran’s expansionist and ideological goals.
On Thursday, World Israel News reported that the Iranian Jewish community has been coerced into publicly denouncing the assassination of Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh. This statement issued under intense pressure from Iran’s oppressive regime calls attention to the precarious position of the remaining Jewish population in Iran.
Beni Sabti, an expert on the 9,000 Jews still living in Iran, explained to the Jerusalem Post that the community’s criticism of the killing of Haniyeh is driven by fear of retribution. WIN reported that the assassination, reportedly carried out by Israel but not confirmed has placed the Jewish community in a vulnerable position, compelling them to issue a statement that aligns with the regime’s stance.
WIN also reported that the letter from the Iranian Jewish community, which reflects the significant pressure they face, includes the following key points: Condemnation of Haniyeh’s assassination, referring to it as a “crime and a terror attack against international law,” praise for Haniyeh as a martyr who worked to free Jerusalem and suffered attacks throughout his life, condolences to the “Palestinian hero” Ismail Haniyeh, the resistance warriors, and the Iranian leader and a call for a strong reaction against those responsible for Haniyeh’s death.
Sabti described the letter as the “most humiliating message” he has ever seen, highlighting the extreme fear and pressure experienced by the Jewish community. According to the information provided in the WIN report, he pointed out that regime terror groups such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij could potentially attack Jews, necessitating this forced declaration.
The plight of Iranian Jews has been dire for years. In 2023, they were compelled to participate in the anti-Zionist Al Quds Day, an event advocating for the destruction of Israel, coinciding with the Jewish festival of Passover, as was reported by WIN. This event starkly illustrated the community’s coerced involvement in state-sanctioned anti-Israel activities.
Out of a total population of 90 million in Iran, the Jewish community numbers only about 9,000. They are treated as second-class citizens, a status known as dhimmi in Islamic societies. The Iranian government has enforced this status by isolating Jews during elections, creating exclusive polling stations and events for them. The WIN report added that this treatment has been described by the US State Department as “deplorable.”
According to a New York Times report that appeared on Thursday, the assassination of prominent Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh was executed with precision, and has sent shockwaves through the region and raised significant questions about security and intelligence operations in Iran.
The report in the NYT said that Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device that had been covertly smuggled into the guest house in Tehran where he was staying. This guest house, located in a prestigious neighborhood in northern Tehran, is part of a larger complex managed and protected by the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The bomb, hidden approximately two months prior to the explosion, was meticulously concealed within the guest house. The information contained in the NYT report said that the fact that it remained undetected for such a duration highlights the sophisticated nature of the operation and the potential breach in security protocols within an IRGC-managed facility.
The device was activated remotely, ensuring that it detonated only when it was confirmed that Haniyeh was in his room, the report added. The precision of the timing indicates advanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities on the part of those who orchestrated the assassination.
The explosion was powerful, causing significant damage to the building. It shattered several windows and led to the partial collapse of an exterior wall. The blast also claimed the life of one of Haniyeh’s bodyguards, underscoring the lethal precision of the attack.
The assassination of Haniyeh in such a secure location raises numerous questions about the efficacy of the IRGC’s security measures and the extent of intelligence penetration by external actors. Given the Revolutionary Guard’s reputation for stringent security, this breach is particularly significant and likely to prompt a comprehensive review of security protocols.
The incident also highlights the volatile and dangerous nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where high-profile terror targets are at constant risk of assassination.
