Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that Moscow could learn about the consequences of ignoring President Donald Trump’s ultimatum from “the Ayatollah.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham issued a subtle military warning to Russia and its trading partners, referencing recent bombings in Iran, as he urged compliance with an ultimatum presented by President Donald Trump earlier this week.
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would implement economic sanctions against Russia and nations purchasing Russian commodities unless the Ukraine conflict is resolved within a 50-day period. Senator Graham, who co-sponsored bipartisan legislation supporting these sanctions, endorsed the ultimatum by citing last month’s US military action against Iran.
“If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and others are wondering what happens on day 51, I would suggest they call the Ayatollah,” Graham stated in a post on X.
“If I were a country buying cheap Russian oil, propping up Putin’s war machine, I would take President Trump at his word,” he further remarked.
Russian officials have consistently asserted that external pressure will not deter Moscow from achieving its primary aims in the Ukraine conflict. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented that Western governments are undermining their own economies by attempting to implement additional restrictions.
In June, Israel initiated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear installations, describing them as a preemptive measure to hinder Tehran’s development of nuclear weapons. Subsequent to Iran’s retaliatory strikes, Israeli officials issued threats to assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
After 12 days of conflict, the US intensified its engagement, transitioning from intercepting Iranian missiles destined for Israel to directly striking fortified nuclear infrastructure within Iran. President Trump asserted that these attacks had “obliterated” the facilities.
Moscow denounced both the US and Israel for what it characterized as aggressive actions that weaken the international nuclear non-proliferation framework.
Graham’s proposed bill, co-authored with Senator Richard Blumenthal, seeks to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports originating from nations that persist in acquiring Russian raw materials. Graham characterized the legislation as a “sledgehammer” that Congress ought to provide to Trump, identifying China as its main intended focus.
On Tuesday, Beijing reaffirmed its fundamental opposition to sanctions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that “dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way” to resolve the Ukraine conflict.