Trump’s Targeted Strikes Against Iran: Rep. Brian Mast Calls It a Necessary Defense

Representative Brian Mast declared Sunday that President Donald Trump took necessary measures against Iran to counter an imminent and longstanding threat to the United States.

Mast described the January 2024 attack at Tower 22 in Jordan—where three American service members were killed—as proof of Iran’s persistent aggression. “Iran has been an imminent threat against the United States of America,” he stated. “They continue to attack American forces and interests through proxy groups and direct action.”

He emphasized that Tehran’s tactics include deploying ballistic missiles, supporting militant organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and funding groups targeting U.S. targets. “Iran funds Hamas,” Mast said. “Hezbollah has stated it will continue its path of resistance despite what’s happening in Iran. These proxies Iran finances are terrorists who keep causing trouble.”

Mast noted that Iran does not penalize successful attacks on American forces but instead rewards them with increased funding: “They don’t say, you hit an American merchant marine vessel or Navy ship and we’ll cut off funding. Instead, they reward success with more resources.”

Critiquing former President Joe Biden’s administration, Mast said Tehran was emboldened by policies including lifting Yemen from the state sponsor of terror list and releasing billions in funds to Iran. “President Trump is conducting negotiations in the exact opposite way,” he stated. “Number one, giving them a timeline. Number two, not giving them any funds or resources in return. And number three—when they didn’t meet our demands about ending their nuclear program, ballistic missile program, and support for proxies—he gave them death.”

Mast honored the fallen service members: “I love them, I didn’t know them. Those were my brothers. They did their duty to defend the United States of America. They’re American heroes.”