The death of Senator Lindsey Graham is a major blow to Israel’s efforts to persuade the United States to continue its military campaign against Iran, as well as other Israeli targets in Washington, according to those familiar with American strategies in the region.
The 71-year-old Republican from South Carolina was one of Israel’s biggest champions for a long time. He supported the Middle Eastern nation on many fronts, from securing arms deals with the United States to trying to restore relations with the Saudis.
Above all, Graham — a national security hawk — supported Israel against the Islamic regime in Tehran, sometimes advocating military strikes even when President Donald Trump balked. Graham’s close relationship with Trump and his high status in Congress, where he wasinfluence the use of foreign policiesincreased its influence.
Graham’s death is untimely for Israel because that country, to which he was a frequent visitor, has beenbleeding support among Americans. Democrats and Republicans are frustrated with Israel, especially over its military campaign in Gaza and its first round of artillery fire at Iran.
The Israelis “always knew that Lindsey was trying to unify Israel in the region and fight Iranian influence. Losing that as a permanent fixture — someone who would be on TV, using his gavel and that authority, everything else, and losing — that hurts,” said one Middle East analyst with ties to Israeli officials who was not identified to discuss the sensitive negotiations.
On Monday, Trump listed Israel among those who “lost” Graham’s death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the late senator on Sunday as a man who “never shake,” including preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Asked about Graham’s role in Trump’s Iran policy, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Graham but said, “The president listens to a lot of opinions on any issue, including Iran, but ultimately he makes a decision based on what he feels is best for the country.”
Iran’s state-controlled media, for its part, reacted with glee at losing one of its biggest rivals in Washington. One article was headlined “Death of the Merchant of Death.”
Graham’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Although Graham was known for supporting military action against Iran, he was also cautious about staying on Trump’s good side, former U.S. diplomats and analysts said. He expressed support for Trump’s efforts to end the war with Iran through a diplomatic deal, but made it clearhe had doubtsthe effort would be successful. His doubts werewith the Israeli governmentwhich sees the Iranian regime as an unreliable diplomatic partner.
Tom Nides, who served as the US ambassador to Israel during the Biden administration, said Graham was also a strong voice pushing for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia – something Netanyahu wants to achieve.
Graham had previously spoken harshly against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman about itallegations of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But, after a process that included talks with Biden administration officials, Grahamcreated by the principalin 2023 and began to push Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish relations.
The Saudi-Israeli legalization project has been largely derailed by Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and Saudi calls on Israel to support the path to a Palestinian state.
Nides and others showed Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) as possible successors who could defend Israel in the same way as Graham. Both are ambivalent about national security, especially when it comes to dealing with Tehran, but they are not very close to Trump and are viewed as impersonal by Democrats.
“Graham is unusual because the Democrats loved him too. I mean, they were mad at him, but they loved him,” Nides said.
The offices of Cruz and Cotton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fred Fleitz, who served as the chief of staff of the National Security Council during Trump’s first term, suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are already two voices that could have more influence on Iran in the future, although neither is believed to begung-ho about going to waras Graham was.
“Trump listens to a lot of people, but he clearly listens to Senator Graham,” Fleitz said. “He was calling him for advice, and Graham was calling him regularly to try to give him his advice to help him push national security policy.”
Jerry Wu and Megan Messerly contributed to this report.
