U.S. Senator Ted Cruz threw his support behind President Donald Trump’s call for new leadership in Iran during a Fox News interview, as demonstrations against the Iranian regime—and the government’s crackdown on protesters—continued.
Cruz, a Republican from Texas, described Iran as “the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism” over the past five decades, claiming the regime provides the bulk of funding for Hamas and Hezbollah. He also pointed to what he said was the scale and bravery of the uprising, citing more than a million Iranians who he said are challenging a “tyrannical regime.”
“You look at Iran. Iran, for 50 years, has been the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism. They have paid for and funded 90% of the funding of Hamas comes from Iran. Ninety percent of the funding for Hezbollah comes from Iran,” Cruz said in the interview. “Iran funds terrorists all across the globe… there are over a million Iranians that are showing unbelievable courage, standing up against this tyrannical regime.”
Cruz credited Trump with taking a hard line in support of demonstrators and warning Iran’s leadership against targeting them. He referenced a January 17 statement in which Trump, he said, moved beyond condemnation and explicitly called for regime change.
“And I got to say President Trump has been very strong in telling the regime number one we stand with people do not target and murder protesters America stands with you,” Cruz said. “In just two days a really important step occurred where president Trump came out unequivocally said it is time for new leadership of Iran. It is time for the Ayatollah Khamenei, his religious dictatorship to end. I think that’s massively important.”
Trump’s remarks came in an interview with Politico. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said, criticizing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for responding to protests with violence. “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death,” he added.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded on January 18 with a warning that any aggression toward Khamenei would be treated as a direct act of war against the Iranian nation.
“Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation,” Pezeshkian wrote on social media.
(Translation) “If the people of [Iran] face hardship and difficulties in their lives, one of the main reasons for it is the longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States government and its allies. Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation.”
In recent days, Cruz has also amplified his support for Iranian protesters on social media, posting messages including “America stands with the people of Iran” and “Free Iran.”
