Senator says deal may halt hostilities, stabilize markets, and advance Saudi-Israel normalization.
US Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Wednesday that he now supports the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, following what he described as a lengthy and productive discussion with President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Graham, who had previously raised concerns about the agreement, said he now believes signing the MOU could benefit the United States by helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ending active hostilities with Iran.
He stressed that a final, verifiable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and other critical issues has not yet been secured. However, he argued there is little downside in attempting to reach one if the immediate result is reduced conflict and restored economic stability.
According to Graham, reopening the Strait and stopping the fighting could create momentum for peace beyond the Iran conflict itself. He said economic stability for the United States, the Middle East, and global markets is an essential foundation for broader regional progress.
Graham also linked the MOU to a larger strategic goal: expanding the Abraham Accords and achieving normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. He said that objective remains his and Trump’s ultimate priority, and that the MOU may serve as a necessary step toward making it possible.
The United States and Iran reportedly signed the memorandum electronically on Wednesday, bringing it into effect. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the document was being digitally signed by both sides and said any violation would now carry a higher cost.
Plans for a formal signing ceremony in Geneva or Brussels were dropped after both sides agreed to complete the process digitally.
For Washington, the agreement is being framed as a gamble for stability. For Israel and the region, the real test will be whether Iran’s regime honors the deal or uses diplomacy to buy time while preserving its dangerous ambitions.
