During a Senate floor address amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, John Kennedy argued that the United States is not initiating a new conflict with Iran but responding to what he described as an ongoing campaign of aggression directed by the regime of Ali Khamenei. He framed the network of proxy groups operating in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria as evidence of a long-standing confrontation that predates current policy debates and has resulted in repeated attacks on U.S. forces.

Kennedy cited more than one hundred militia strikes on American personnel since October 2023, along with maritime and missile activity attributed to Iran-aligned groups, as justification for maintaining a posture of deterrence and pressure. He rejected claims that U.S. policy amounts to warmongering, asserting instead that the objective is to prevent regional domination by Tehran and to protect American service members and allies from further attacks.

A central theme of the speech was the potential consequence of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Kennedy warned that such a development would likely trigger a rapid cascade of proliferation across the Middle East and parts of Asia, naming countries that he believes would pursue their own nuclear programs in response. In his view, this scenario would dramatically increase the risk of state-level conflict and undermine global nonproliferation frameworks.

He also emphasized ideological differences between the United States and Iran’s governing system, arguing that Tehran’s fusion of political authority and religious doctrine shapes its foreign policy behavior and support for militant organizations. Referencing groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, Kennedy described them as instruments of Iranian influence responsible for violence against civilians and military personnel in multiple regions.

The remarks drew strong reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the speech for highlighting Iran’s historical role in regional instability since 1979 and for defending a strategy of deterrence aligned with the policies of Donald Trump. Critics, however, argued that the framing risks oversimplifying complex geopolitical dynamics and could contribute to escalating rhetoric at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Iran relations.

The debate reflects broader divisions in Washington between those advocating sustained pressure on Tehran and those favoring a more restrained approach that prioritizes diplomacy and limits military engagement. As indirect talks and regional security developments continue, the competing narratives over whether the United States is preventing or provoking conflict are likely to remain central to policy discussions.

Kennedy concluded by urging continued vigilance against Iranian-backed activities while maintaining that the ultimate goal is deterrence rather than war, a position that underscores the ongoing tension between strategic pressure and the desire to avoid direct military confrontation.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: 

"The Ayatollah is Muslim, but his strain of Islam says that if you do not agree with his interpretation, you deserve TO DIE."

"The Ayatollah wants to KILL ME."

"We're not trying to start a war in Iran. The president is trying to end the war in Iran."

"I'm talking about the Ayatollah and his followers. In America, we separate government from religion. Not Iran. The government IS the religion."

"He acts on this belief."

"If the Ayatollah gets a nuclear weapon, he will use it. He could use it against America. He could use it against Israel. I don't know who he'll use it against, and I hope I'm wrong, but he will use it."

"And you know what else will happen? As soon as he gets a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia is going to get a nuclear weapon, and the UAE is going to get a nuclear weapon, and Japan is going to get a nuclear weapon, and South Korea, and I could go on, and on, and on."

"He exports terrorism. He was the person behind Hamas and Hezbollah that has killed, that have killed so many people throughout the world, not just in the Middle East, but across the world, including, but not limited to, Americans. That's why we ought to care."