Montana Senate Delegation Calls for Destroying Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities, Stopping Short of Advocating U.S. Military Intervention

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Steve Daines said Monday it is time to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities, praising Israel’s military actions while stopping short of explicitly calling for direct U.S. intervention.

“It is time to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” the Montana Republican said during a Fox Business interview. “They are on the verge of breakout to getting a 90 percent uranium-rich type material which allows them to have a nuclear bomb.”

Daines, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, framed Iran’s nuclear program as a global threat, noting the regime “openly says, ‘Death to America'” and calls Israel “the little Satan” and the United States “the big Satan.”

The senator argued that current regional dynamics present “a unique window of time” for action, citing weakened positions of Iran’s proxy groups: “With Hamas on its heels, Hezbollah neutered, the Houthis on their heels, this is a unique window of time.”

Rather than calling for U.S. military action, Daines expressed support for Israeli preemptive strikes: “Thank God that Israel can act preemptively and stop Iran from ever getting a nuclear bomb.”

His comments come as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, with Daines having previously issued statements supporting Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

“President Trump is exactly right. The time for discussions are over,” Daines said. “The Iranians have had a chance to come up with a deal. They haven’t. It is time to take out their nuclear capabilities.”

Fellow Montana Senator Tim Sheehy echoed similar sentiments on social media, posting on X: “A regime that chants ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. America stands with Israel.”

The senators’ remarks reflect growing Republican calls for more aggressive action against Iran’s nuclear program, while carefully avoiding explicit advocacy for direct U.S. military involvement in such operations.