Lindsey Graham Urges U.S. To Use "Any Means Necessary" to Stop Killings of Iranian Protesters

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday called on the United States to use "any means necessary" to stop those he says are responsible for killing Iranian protesters, urging action beyond public statements of support.

Graham’s Call for Stronger Measures

In a post on X, Graham described the Iranian leadership as a "murderous, religious Nazi regime" and said the U.S. should not only stand with demonstrators but also take decisive action to protect them. "We must stop those who are responsible for killing the people by any means necessary ASAP. Make The Iranian People Safe Again," he wrote.

"No boots on the ground, but unleashing holy hell ... A massive wave of military, cyber and psychological attacks is the meat and bones of 'help is on the way.'" — Sen. Lindsey Graham, X

Proposed Tools Short Of Ground Invasion

Graham emphasized that his plan would avoid deploying U.S. ground troops while advocating for a coordinated campaign of military, cyber and psychological operations aimed at degrading the regime's capacity to repress protesters. He said the goal should be to "destroy the infrastructure that allows the massacre and slaughter of the Iranian people, and take down the leaders responsible for the killing."

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

Conflicting Reports From Washington

President Donald Trump told supporters on Wednesday that "very important sources" had informed him the killings in Iran had stopped and that executions would not take place. "We've been told on good authority. And I hope it's true," he said. Graham disputed that assessment in a later post, saying "every indication that I’ve seen" points to continued violence and a mounting death toll.

Context: Protests and Crackdown

Pro-democracy demonstrations inside Iran have been met with a harsh security response, and independent verification of casualty figures has been difficult amid limited access and conflicting accounts. U.S. officials and human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the scale of the crackdown.

What Comes Next

Graham framed stronger U.S. action as a way to protect Iranian civilians while avoiding a direct occupation. His proposal and the president's statements raise questions about what forms of pressure—diplomatic, economic, cyber or military—Washington may be willing to authorize, and how such measures could affect regional stability and U.S. allies.

Note: This article summarizes public statements by U.S. officials and reported conditions inside Iran. Independent confirmation of some claims remains limited.