Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) addressed the U.S. Senate regarding the United States’ approach to Iran, focusing on efforts to curb Iran’s missile program and related activities. In his remarks, Kennedy emphasized that the intent is not to escalate conflict but to seek resolution.
“We don’t know how many people he’s hung in the last six months. We don’t know how many people he’s tortured. I’ve seen estimates as high as 50,000. So that’s what this business with Iran is all about,” Kennedy said.
He continued, “We’re not trying to be the world’s policeman. We’re trying to stop the Ayatollah from being the world’s policeman. He’s getting a lot of support from President Xi Jinping in China and Vladimir Putin in Russia and Kim Jong Un in North Korea. So that’s where we find ourselves, trying to stop this war.”
Kennedy addressed Iran’s Supreme Leader directly: “And to the Ayatollah, I would say, ‘Ayatollah, you’re entitled to believe what you want. You can hate me. You can believe that. I know you hate me and what I stand for. Do you know how I sleep at night knowing that you hate me? With the fan on. That’s your right. But you can’t act on that belief.’”
He called for specific actions from Iran: “Put down the nuclear weapons. Put down the nuclear enrichment. Stop exporting terrorism to Hamas and Hezbollah. End your missile program. Stop killing and torturing your people. That’s all we want. And he’s doing that as we speak. He’s at war. We’re trying to stop it.”
Kennedy refrained from offering advice to President Biden but stressed caution: “I’m not about to give the president any advice. He has intelligence that I don’t have, and I respect the fact that he’s being very deliberate and careful in making the decision. If we make a deal with Iran, let’s make sure we have a protocol to enforce it, because my experience in watching the Ayatollah through the years, I wouldn’t trust this man if he were three days dead.”
He reiterated his main point: “Let me say it again. We’re not trying to start a war. This war began a long time ago. We’re trying to end it.”
Senator Kennedy represents Louisiana statewide and has engaged constituents through newsletters, town halls, and public events according to his official website. His district offices are located in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport (source). Throughout his tenure he has advanced policies supporting veterans, farmers, small businesses and national security (source). Kennedy chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs while also serving on Appropriations, Budget and Energy and Natural Resources committees (source).
