Congressman Mike Lawler Praises Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran as ‘Decisive Step’ Against Decades of Aggression

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Saturday, 28 February 2026 03:54 PM EST

House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) voiced his support for President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran on Saturday, describing it as a “decisive step” to end what he called decades of aggression by the regime.

Lawler stated that the move was necessary due to Iran’s ballistic missile program, nuclear ambitions, funding of terrorism, and treatment of its citizens. He emphasized that the regime has been slaughtering tens of thousands of its own people in recent weeks. “The fact is that Iran’s ballistic missiles program, their nuclear ambitions, their funding of terrorism, their oppression of their own people, in which they were slaughtering tens of thousands of them just a few weeks ago, it all has to come to an end,” Lawler said.

Lawler framed the operation as part of a broader effort to bring stability to the region. “Ultimately, this is about ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East and ending the threats posed by the ayatollah and this regime,” he added.

When asked about reports suggesting Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei might have been killed, Lawler cautioned that the operation was still unfolding. “This operation is well underway. It is not complete yet,” he said. “This was obviously the initial phase here.”

Lawler noted that several key targets within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and ballistic missile launchers had already been struck. “A number of IRGC leadership and sites were in fact taken out,” Lawler stated.

The lawmaker also defended Trump’s diplomatic approach, saying the president provided Iran with opportunities to change course before the strike. “President Trump, unlike previous presidents, has followed through on his red lines,” he added.

Lawler described the action as the culmination of decades of tension. “I think it’s important to note the road to diplomacy has been going on for 47 years, that this regime has acted belligerently, terrorizing the Middle East, killing Americans,” he said. “And today we finally said, enough.”