Graham Warns Kremlin: “Call Iran on Day 51 If No Deal Is Reached”
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a blunt message to Vladimir Putin, responding to President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum for Russia to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Graham’s post on social media platform X.
If no deal is reached, Graham wrote, the Russian leader should be prepared to “call the Ayatollah” – a pointed reference to Iran’s supreme leader and Moscow’s growing reliance on Tehran.
Graham endorsed Trump’s remarks made earlier this week, in which the president promised to send NATO-backed weapons to Ukraine, provided European allies cover the cost, and threatened sweeping tariffs on countries purchasing discounted Russian oil.
“President Trump’s announcement about sending American-made weapons, paid for by Europeans, to Ukraine through NATO was welcome news,” Graham stated. “Equally important was his statement that if the fighting had not ended in 50 days, he would impose up to 100% tariffs on countries buying cheap Russian oil propping up Putin’s war machine, hitting Putin where it hurts the most.”
Graham stressed the significance of this economic threat, calling it a direct strike at Putin’s most vulnerable point.
The senator then delivered a sharply worded caution: “If Putin and others are wondering what happens on day 51, I would suggest they call the Ayatollah.”
Graham closed by urging countries that continue to do business with Moscow to take the warning seriously.
“If I were a country buying cheap Russian oil, propping up Putin’s war machine, I would take President Trump at his word,” Graham concluded.
President Trump recently declared that the U.S. would implement harsh tariffs on Russia and its trade partners if a peace agreement on Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.
As The Gaze reported earlier, President Donald Trump has not ruled out providing longer-range missiles to Ukraine, signaling a shift in his stance on arming Kyiv as he intensifies pressure on Moscow.