Senator Mike Rounds: Neutralizing Iran’s Nuclear Program Would Be “Major Step Forward” for Middle East Peace

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican and member of the Armed Services Committee, stated Sunday that neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program would mark “a major step forward” for peace in the Middle East and allow the United States to refocus its military priorities worldwide.

Speaking during special coverage on U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian facilities, Rounds said: “If Iran is neutralized, if we turn them into a nation that actually is looking at a future without nuclear weapons and without ballistic missiles that threaten their neighbors, the Middle East can become more peaceful.”

Rounds noted that diplomatic efforts with Iran had been exhausted over the past year. He described recent strikes as having targeted Iranian facilities but leaving concerns about buried nuclear materials intact. The senator also highlighted the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a bombing Saturday, stating it has given the Iranian people an opportunity to decide their nation’s future: “It’s up to them to decide, and then we’ll respond based upon what the Iranian response is to having this loss of authority for this evil dictatorship.”

Rounds contrasted Iran’s situation with previous U.S.-backed operations in Venezuela, noting that the potential collapse of Iran’s regime leadership presents a unique challenge. He emphasized President Donald Trump’s understanding of the need for action: “He talked about North America and the defense for North America and not forgetting about our own country.” Additionally, Rounds stated that Iran had multiple opportunities to curb its nuclear program through direct talks with the United States but failed to act.