Conservative podcaster Mark Levin on Tuesday said the United States should “knock out” Iran after the midterm elections, saying the recently signed peace deal was “rushed” and offers a great deal of benefits for Tehran.
Levin, a close ally of President Donald Trump who is pro-Israel, made his remarks shortly after reports circulated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to sway public opinion about the Iran deal through right-wing influences.
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“Time for a change in strategy,” Levin said in an X post. “We should consider slow walking the enemy, building up our munitions, our oil reserves, get the price of gasoline down, get through the midterms, then knock them out. Instead of rushing to a deal, building up their oil industry, transferring billions to them, etc.”
Levin has been critical of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. since details started coming to light about the language in the document. He has frequently posted to social media in support of Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah operations in Lebanon, which were included in the ceasefire agreement.
According to Israel sources speaking with CNN, Netanyahu is not sold on Tehran’s intentions in signing the deal with Washington. Because Trump has signed the MOU with Iran, setting the stage for 60 days of negotiations, the prime minister is reportedly trying to utilize conservative media figures and lawmakers, including Levin, to get his message out.
The Iran war was wildly unpopular and posed a serious threat to the GOP as they risk losing control of Congress in the midterm elections, and aspects of the MOU are not garnering strong support from Republicans nor Israel.
Under the 14-point signed agreement, hostilities on “all fronts” are to end, specifically noting Lebanon, which has been subject to Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah operations. Netanyahu reportedly told Trump that the Jewish state is not itself obligated to comply with the deal.
The deal also reopens the Strait of Hormuz without tolls for at least 60 days, though it’s unclear if tolls can be reinstated afterward. Additionally, it does not outright end Iran’s nuclear program, but prompts negotiations to plan the end.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who pushed for more strikes on Iran, had said he was content with the deal being agreed but said he was “somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.”
Graham slightly changed his tune days later, shortly before the deal was officially signed by Trump, and said he views it as “beneficial to the United States, in as much as the Strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop.”
But the longtime senator emphasized the deal is only worth its salt if Iran’s nuclear program is stopped.
“Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying,” he said.
Washington also agreed to assist in a regional plan to invest roughly $300 billion in reconstruction and development in Iran, but officials have emphasized that money is contingent on Iran’s actions. The U.S. will also lift sanctions on Iran and unfreeze its assets.
CASSIDY CALLS TRUMP’S DEAL WITH IRAN ‘WORST FOREIGN POLICY BLUNDER IN DECADES’
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) called the agreement the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” saying Iran benefits from the deal.
“Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive,” he said. “Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
