Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) struck a bold and unapologetic tone when he called Israel’s recent strikes on Iran a “perfect opportunity” for the Iranian people to rise and overthrow the Islamic regime. As Democrats accuse President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately derailing talks aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear program, McCaul pointed out that Iran’s tyrannical leaders—not Israel or the United States—are the actual threat to peace in the region.
“Now that their top leadership has been taken out, if there's ever a time for the people to rise up against this theocracy, I would think the conditions are set,” McCaul told Fox News Digital.
McCaul said Israel’s strikes create a key opportunity for the Iranian people to rise and remove the ruling theocracy. He emphasized that most Iranians oppose the Ayatollah’s regime and suggested this moment could lead to their liberation. He also applauded Israel for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, pointing out that the Iranian regime was “very close to a nuclear bomb.”
The Republican’s comments come after Israel launched a barrage of strikes on Thursday in and around Tehran, targeting the region’s nuclear sites. The attack killed multiple senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. On Friday, Iran retaliated by launching missiles toward Israel.
The Israeli government said the strikes were pre-emptive and that President Trump was informed of the attack ahead of time.
In May, McCaul joined a group of lawmakers on a trip in the Middle East, which included a stop in Israel. The group met with Netanyahu, among others.
“When we were in the region, they felt certain that Iran would strike our military sites in Saudi, Jordan and the UAE," he said. “The big talk also at that time was, give CENTCOM time to get prepared in the region to get all of its strategic assets in place for a response. And my understanding is … all of our bases and military sites and embassies are on high alert."
McCaul said he had earlier questioned Prime Minister Netanyahu about reports of Iran preparing a nuclear strike, noting that the scale of Iran’s nuclear capabilities made an attack appear imminent.
“‘If you don’t fight, you die,’” McCaul recalled Netanyahu saying— always in the context of striking Iran.
The congressman also recalled Netanyahu saying, “I will strike Iran with or without you.” In response, McCaul emphasized the importance of coordination, telling Netanyahu that the United States must be informed in advance about any planned action, regardless of whether President Trump chooses to act first.
McCaul said he has little faith that Tehran wants to negotiate a deal with the U.S. to contain its nuclear enrichment.