Pro-Israel senator backs presidential strike flexibility, declaring Tehran’s crumbling regime vulnerable to decisive American power.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) signaled a sharp break from many in his party this week, arguing that the United States faces a rare and strategic opening to reshape Iran’s future while the regime stands at one of its weakest points in decades.
Speaking to Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax, Fetterman said he was likely the only Democrat to applaud during President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union remarks referencing possible military action against Iran.
“I might have been the only Democrat to stand up and clap,” Fetterman said, referencing Trump’s mention of “Midnight Hammer” and potential targeted strikes.
Rejecting Nuclear Talks
Fetterman dismissed renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran, citing what he described as a pattern of broken promises and dangerous uranium enrichment levels.
He pointed to reports that Iran accumulated roughly 900 pounds of near weapons-grade uranium, arguing that past agreements only emboldened the regime rather than restrained it. According to Fetterman, strength — not diplomacy — is the only language Tehran responds to.
He further condemned the Iranian leadership’s domestic brutality, referencing mass crackdowns that resulted in thousands of deaths during internal unrest.
A “Unique Opportunity”
Fetterman emphasized that intelligence and public reporting suggest Iran’s ruling structure is under extraordinary internal strain.
“The regime has been the weakest that they’ve been in decades,” he said. “We have a unique opportunity to topple it or install a better way forward.”
He also confirmed plans to oppose any congressional effort to restrict presidential war powers concerning Iran, arguing that the commander-in-chief must retain flexibility to conduct targeted military operations if necessary.
Strongly Pro-Israel Record
Fetterman remains one of the most outspoken pro-Israel Democrats in Congress. He has:
- Publicly referred to the Iranian regime as a “cancer”
- Opposed agreements that could enable Tehran’s nuclear ambitions
- Displayed posters of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas until their return
- Waved an Israeli flag from his office rooftop in response to anti-Israel protests
His stance underscores growing bipartisan concern that Iran’s nuclear progress and regional aggression threaten stability across the Middle East.
As debate intensifies in Washington, Fetterman’s position reflects a faction of lawmakers who believe decisive pressure — not prolonged negotiations — may determine whether Iran’s nuclear ambitions are permanently halted.
