'So sweet, I'm reading it twice': Iran celebrates Lindsey Graham's death over his hardline stance

WASHINGTON, DC: As tributes continue to pour in across the United States following Lindsey Graham's sudden death, the mood in Iran has been markedly different, with many celebrating the passing of the senator.

The 71-year-old Republican senator and one of President Donald Trump’s closest political allies died on Saturday, July 11, just a day after he returned to Washington following his 10th trip to Ukraine.

According to preliminary findings from the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Graham died from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Tehran mocks Lindsey Graham as 'warmongering, anti-Iranian US senator'

Tasnim, an Iranian news agency affiliated with the regime, aired the reports of Graham’s death, with a headline reading "Graham dies, taking the destruction of Iran to the grave.”

The anchor reading the news described Graham as a “warmongering” and “anti-Iranian” politician before congratulating the Iranian people over his death.

“I congratulate the great nation of Iran on Lindsey Graham, the warmongering, anti-Iranian US senator, being sent to hell,” the anchor stated. “This news is so sweet that I'm reading it twice.”

Regime supporters on social media shared a graphic showing several figures allegedly marked for revenge over the February attack on Iran, with Graham's face crossed out with a red X - the only one "eliminated." The image carried the words: "We will continue to update."

Among those reacting was Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, who reposted the announcement of Graham's death and wrote: "It's a shame. I wanted him to see oil prices on Monday before he went to hell." 

Not everyone shared the celebratory mood. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi offered a starkly different response, mourning Graham's death and remembering him as a "steadfast friend of the Iranian people."

Lindsey Graham maintained a hardline stance on Iran 

Iran’s celebratory mood over Graham’s death appears to stem from his longstanding hardline US policy toward Iran and consistent backing of close strategic ties between the United States and Israel.

The Republican was one of the Senate's most outspoken foreign policy hawks, advocating military action against Iran while backing Trump's judicial nominees, immigration agenda, and broader America First foreign policy.

Just a day before his death, he announced that he had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to advance a new package of sanctions against Russia following his return from a visit to Ukraine.

President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Graham shortly after the South Carolina senator landed in the US following his visit to Ukraine.

“What makes it even stranger is that I got a call last night, sometime [in] the early evening,” the Republican leader recalled to NBC News’ 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, indicating it may have been around 7 o’clock.

“He said we’re all set for the SAVE America Act. He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy. He got back and said he just landed from Ukraine. I said, ‘That’s a long trip to make.’ He sounded a little tired, but perfect. But a little bit tired,” Trump added.