Lindsey Graham Issues Stark Warning to Saudi Arabia Over Iran Conflict
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of former President Donald Trump, has publicly threatened Saudi Arabia with "consequences" if the kingdom refuses to participate in United States military operations against Iran. The warning came in a social media post on Monday, where Graham questioned the validity of a long-sought defense agreement between the two nations, arguing that Saudi Arabia's lack of military involvement makes the partnership difficult to justify as American lives are lost in a conflict he helped instigate.
Evacuations and Escalating Tensions
In his post on X, Graham revealed that the American embassy in Riyadh is being evacuated due to sustained Iranian attacks on Saudi soil. He expressed significant frustration that Saudi Arabia has declined to join military efforts despite what he described as a shared interest in defeating Iran. "Americans are dying and the US is spending billions to dislodge the terrorist Iranian regime," Graham wrote. "Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia seems to be issuing statements and doing things in the background that are marginally helpful."
He extended the pressure to other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, urging them to become more involved since "this fight is in their backyard." The post concluded with a veiled threat: "If not, consequences will follow."
Background of Defense Negotiations
Riyadh has been actively pursuing a formal US security guarantee modeled on Washington's treaty with Japan, which would commit the United States to help defend the kingdom against external attacks. In May 2025, the Trump administration announced a $142 billion arms package with Riyadh, describing it as the largest defense cooperation agreement in US history. By November, Saudi Arabia was granted major non-NATO ally status. However, a broader, binding mutual defense pact remains unsigned, leaving the relationship in a precarious state.
Earlier on Monday, the Saudi foreign ministry responded to the Iranian strikes, condemning them as unjustifiable and asserting that Riyadh retains "its full right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens." Notably, the statement made no mention of joining US military operations, and the embassy did not return requests for comment on Graham's threats.
Graham's Influence and the Path to War
Graham's threat carries substantial weight not because of direct leverage over Riyadh, but due to his demonstrated geopolitical influence over the administration that initiated this conflict. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Graham spent months pressing Donald Trump to authorize strikes on Iran, first raising the idea during a golf game shortly after the 2024 election.
The senator made repeated trips to Israel, communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to signal that US strikes were likely, and advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to approach the president. In an interview, Graham claimed that Israeli officials sometimes shared information with him that "our own government won't tell me."
He also collaborated with retired General Jack Keane and Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen, a former chief speechwriter for George W. Bush, who wrote opinion pieces and appeared on television to attract Trump's attention—some of which Trump later shared on his Truth Social platform.
Operation Epic Fury and Regional Fallout
On February 28, the United States launched airstrikes against Iran in an operation codenamed Operation Epic Fury, coordinated with simultaneous Israeli operations. The strikes killed Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and dozens of other senior officials. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting US military bases and allies across the region, resulting in the deaths of seven American military personnel and injuries to eight others.
Preliminary casualty figures indicate approximately 1,255 killed in Iran, mostly civilians, according to the health minister. Additionally, at least 397 have been killed in Lebanon, 11 in Israel, and several across Gulf states, including four in the United Arab Emirates, as reported by officials.
The US State Department confirmed on Monday that more than 36,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since February 28, with the government completing over two dozen charter flights to facilitate the evacuations.
