Rep. Michael McCaul, a senior U.S. House of Representatives member, has stated that Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran could create a rare chance for Iranians to overthrow their authoritarian Islamic government. During his recent Middle East visit, McCaul met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who emphasized the urgency of military action against Iran. McCaul warned that the Iranian regime may retaliate, while expressing skepticism about future negotiations.
McCaul was part of a group of lawmakers in the Middle East late last month, including a visit to Israel where he met with Netanyahu and other officials. He emphasized that the strikes were a ‘perfect opportunity’ for the Iranian people to rise against their theocratic regime, as the current leadership has been significantly weakened.
The Israeli government claimed the strikes were pre-emptive, arguing that Iran was approaching nuclear weapon capabilities. McCaul aligned with this assessment, stating that the strikes were a ‘major setback’ for Iran but cautioned that the regime would likely respond with countermeasures. He noted that during his visit, Netanyahu had expressed a strong determination to strike Iran, stating, ‘If you don’t fight, you die,’ and that the United States needed to coordinate with Israel and its allies for any potential counterstrike.
President Donald Trump also commented on the situation, indicating he had prior knowledge of Israel’s planned strikes. Trump expressed hope that Iran would return to the negotiating table after the attacks, but McCaul was skeptical about the possibility of successful negotiations, suggesting that Iranians would seek to replace the current leadership if talks failed.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed a ‘legitimate and powerful response’ to the Israeli strikes, underscoring the potential for escalated tensions in the region. Analysts suggest that the situation remains volatile, with both sides likely to continue their military posturing until a political resolution is reached.