Iran Celebrates Death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, Israel and US Mourn

Iranian state media and regime supporters openly celebrated the sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday. Graham, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a staunch supporter of Israel, died unexpectedly at age 71, likely from a heart attack shortly after returning from Ukraine. Iranian state TV anchors expressed satisfaction on air, with one calling the news "so sweet" she read it twice. Pro-regime protesters in Tehran recently displayed images of Graham with a target on his head, alongside other assassination targets including Trump and Israeli leaders.

Graham represented South Carolina in the Senate for 23 years and was known for his hawkish stance against Iran, advocating US military strikes and sanctions to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. He was a key architect of congressional sanctions laws and repeatedly threatened the Iranian regime with destruction. Iranian commentators mocked him as a warmonger whose death marks the end of his efforts against Iran.

In the US and Israel, Graham’s death was met with shock and mourning. Trump called him "one of the greatest senators" and a true American patriot. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Graham as a "great friend of Israel" and a dedicated defender of the US-Israel alliance. Graham had been a vocal supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself, especially following the Hamas terror attacks in October 2023, and had pushed for expanded regional defense pacts including normalization with Saudi Arabia.

Graham was scheduled to appear on NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday. His passing leaves a notable void in US politics, where he was a prominent voice for aggressive policies against Iran and unwavering support for Israel’s security. The Iranian regime’s celebratory response underscores the deep animosity between Graham and Tehran.

Key points: - Iranian state media and supporters celebrated Senator Lindsey Graham’s sudden death. - Graham was a close Trump ally and strong US supporter of Israel for 23 years. - He advocated military action and sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program. - Iranian protesters had recently targeted Graham for assassination. - Trump and Netanyahu publicly mourned Graham as a patriot and friend of Israel. - Graham was a vocal backer of Israel’s response to Hamas and regional defense alliances.

Topic: security

Entities: People: ["Lindsey Graham", "Donald Trump", "Benjamin Netanyahu"] Organizations: ["US Senate", "NBC", "Hamas"] Places: ["Iran", "United States", "Israel", "South Carolina", "Tehran", "Ukraine"]