'Load them up with weapons': Lindsey Graham urges Trump to arm Iranians to turn tide in Iran

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Lindsey Graham urged President Donald Trump to arm civilians inside Iran, saying arming the population could change the course of the conflict.

Graham made the comments on Fox News, arguing that the United States should support Iranians trying to overthrow their government. His comments framed the plan as a way to pressure Iran's leadership without having to send American troops.

Lindsey Graham pushes arming Iranians instead of US troop deployment

During the interview, Graham said the US should consider what he described as a “Second Amendment solution” for Iran.

“If I were President Trump and I were Israel, I would load the Iranian people up with weapons so they can go to the streets armed and turn the tide of battle inside Iran,” the senator said.

“We don’t need American boots on the ground. We’ve got millions of boots on the ground in Iran.”

“They just don’t have any weapons. Give them the weapons so they can rise up like we did to destroy this regime. A Second Amendment solution, I think, would go a long way to ending this war.”

He suggested that instead of sending American forces into the country, the US could provide weapons to people already inside Iran.

He emphasized that such an approach would mean “no American boots on the ground,” arguing that internal resistance could be more effective if supported with weapons.

Graham’s comments reflect his longstanding position advocating a more aggressive stance toward Iran and its government.

“I’m not happy with the delivery of the weapons,” Trump said on Friday.

“I’m not thrilled with it. But a small amount of weapons were sent, and we’ll see who has them. But I’m not happy with what happened with the Kurds. The Kurds did not deliver the weapons.”

Last week, Trump claimed he sent weapons to Kurdish fighters in the region but that he does not know what happened to the arms.

Lindsey Graham questions strategy of working with the Kurds

Host Sean Hannity responded by echoing Trump’s claim.

“My understanding is there have been attempts to do so, and they tried to funnel it through groups–” Hannity said.

“Do it again,” Graham interjected.

“My understanding is, for example, working with the Kurds, they were stealing 90% of the weapons,” the host continued.

“Don’t work with the Kurds,” Graham replied.

“Work with somebody else. And if you can prove to me the Kurds were stealing the weapons, the Kurds will regret that.”

"I love the idea of empowering the Iranian people with weapons, a Second Amendment solution to make the Revolutionary Guard’s life hell. It’s one thing to be bombed by America. It’s another thing to have your neighbor shoot back at you because they’re tired of being slaughtered.”

Graham’s comments contribute to a wider discussion among US lawmakers about how to approach Iran, with some supporting direct military action and others favoring alternative strategies.