Republican senator John Kennedy says US has already won in Iran conflict

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) declared that the US has 'already won' its military operation in Iran, following the weekend strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

Speaking with Sean Hannity on Tuesday, March 3, Kennedy pushed back against remarks from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who criticized the administration for spending billions on military action abroad while failing to tackle soaring costs at home. 

“The American people want us to focus on making their life better and making their life more affordable; not getting involved in another endless war in the Middle East that is going to end in failure,” Jeffries told CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

John Kennedy dismisses Hakeem Jeffries' claims about Iran conflict

When Sean Hannity claimed, "Hakeem Jeffries says, 'We are going to lose,'" Kennedy dismissed, "He’s wrong. He’s wrong. We’ve already won."

Kennedy added, “We will eventually leave Iran after having destroyed their renewed efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, after having destroyed their missile arsenal, after having destroyed their missile launches, after having destroyed their Navy, and the good people of Persia will now have an opportunity to pick their own leadership. Hakeem is wrong.”

Kennedy’s declaration of victory comes just days after the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. In response, Iran launched a wave of drone attacks targeting both US and Israeli positions, while President Donald Trump declined to rule out deploying American troops on the ground.

The weekend strikes left six US service members dead, with Trump warning Sunday that additional casualties could follow. “We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen,” he said.

He concluded, “And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is, likely be more.”

John Kennedy says he will shed no tears for Ayatollah Khamenei

John Kennedy also outlined his three main points on the Iran conflict.

Kennedy began with a surprising quip, “Sean, in the words of Congresswoman Omar — I love you like a brother. And I want you to understand I’m not trying to dodge your question, but I just want to answer it a little differently."

On the fate of Ayatollah Khamenei, Kennedy was blunt. “I don’t hate anyone, but I will shed no tears for Ayatollah Khamenei. He won the coin toss, and he elected to receive. And boy did he receive. May he rest in pieces. He died with the blood of millions under his fingernails.”

Kennedy’s second point focused on the balance of military and political strength: “To defeat adversaries in today’s world, you need military power. But it takes more than that — you need political will. I have watched five, six, seven presidents refuse to stand up to the Ayatollah. President Trump has. He’s got political will. He’s got Oranges. And like him or not, the world is safer today because of what he has done.”

Finally, Kennedy addressed Iran’s leadership, “Any fair-minded person has to believe the people running Iran are religious zealots. They are nuts! Iran was never going to stop its quest for a nuclear weapon. And if these zealots — ten exits past normal — ever get a nuclear warhead, they’re going to use it."