Republican Sen Roger Marshall says US may ‘go into Iran’ if talks fail, urges ‘finish the job’

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Senator Roger Marshall on Wednesday, April 22, said the United States may consider direct military action in Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to produce a peace agreement.

Marshall indicated that escalation could become necessary depending on developments in the coming weeks.

His remarks come as a ceasefire deadline approaches and negotiations remain uncertain.

The comments reflect ongoing debate in Washington over the next steps in the conflict.

Marshall suggests military option if talks fail

In an interview with Newsmax, Marshall was asked whether the United States might “go in” to Iran and “finish the job” if a deal is not reached. “I think that's right,” he responded. 

Marshall said decisions on escalation would depend on evolving conditions, including progress in negotiations.

“Every day is a new day. You have to take everything into consideration,” he said, adding that officials must assess “are they truly making progress or not.”

He also pointed to internal dynamics within Iran, stating that “in Iran they have conflict with who's in control there,” while emphasizing US preparedness.

“Our military is locked and loaded. The blockade is there as well,” he said, describing measures that he said were putting pressure on Iran economically and logistically.

Marshall framed the situation as one in which the US is balancing diplomatic efforts with readiness for further action.

“The president wants to get to peace as soon as he can,” he said. “The president's got this. I've got confidence in the president.”

Comparison to historical wartime decisions

During the interview, Marshall compared the potential decision-making process on Iran to major historical actions taken by past US leaders during World War II. “I think that’s right, and previous presidents have had the same issues on what to do. Think about President Truman’s decision on dropping the bomb and D-Day for President Eisenhower,” Marshall said.

He added that such decisions require consideration of multiple factors, including operational conditions and diplomatic developments. “Every day is a new day. You’ve got to take everything into consideration, whether it’s the weather or are they truly making progress or not,” he said.

Marshall noted that it remains unclear what is happening behind the scenes in negotiations, but suggested that time could allow for further developments.

“We really don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes as far as the negotiations go, but I’m taking this as a good thing,” he said.

The senator also reiterated that the current US strategy includes both military readiness and economic pressure. 

He referenced what he described as an embargo and blockade, stating that these measures are intended to weaken Iran’s capacity to sustain itself over time.