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Exclusive: The top parliamentary Iran Hawks were about to depart from the Middle East for the US on Wednesday.
Rep. Zach Nun (R-Iowa) and D-Calif MP Jimmy Panetta said they visited Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and as of Tuesday they were in the UAE, meeting with leaders to discuss the armed conflict between Israel and Iran.
“We’ve only seen dramatic escalations over the last week, especially with Iran’s threats to the region,” he said, adding that President Donald Trump is leading Iran’s Maximum Pressure Campaign Act, which includes 47 leveraged Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Hoseni Hameni.
Nun, a retired US Air Force colonel who conducted Inter reconnaissance missions off the coast of Russia and China, said that General Eric “Gorilla” Kleela has “full support” after pointing out that he would postpone to Commander Centcom on Iran’s strategy on Tuesday.
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Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-CA, left, Zach Nun, R-IA, right (Getty)
“[Kurilla] Here it is very clear that Iran needs to take an off-ramp from its nuclear enrichment program. In fact, he was one of those highlighting the real threats from nuclear Iran, both to nuclear Iran, its neighbours Israel, and other countries in the Middle East. The United States has a very important role to play in deterrence here,” he said.
Arab allies like the United Arab Emirates recognize Iran presents the biggest “existential threat” to peace in the Middle East, Nun said, adding that as a veteran of the war on terrorism, he does not want our service members to return to combat in the region.
However, 40,000 units are stationed in non-combat roles in the region, and are within Iranian weapon range when Tehran escalates.
Nunn warned that the porous southern border was open to the possibility that Iranian proxy could already be in the US, citing reports that Tehran was somehow connected to the attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania.
Panetta, the son of former CIA director Leon Panetta, said the reason they came together in a bipartisan manner that they may not be politically opposed on all issues, but that Congress is united with Middle Eastern allies.
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Ayatollah Khamenei (Getty)
“Here we have a real opportunity for Arab partners and Israel to stand together to deter Iran. The United States should not be the police officers of the world. Only the United States has the specific capabilities that can be provided in this scenario.
Panetta said he hopes the trip will help other countries build even stronger in line with the Abraham agreement built by Trump in their first term.
“The conflict between Israel and Iran broke out on Thursday. We were going to come here before Friday. And such things changed a few things and unfortunately prevented us from going to Israel. But we were able to hold a very substantial meeting with some of our leadership in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and before we fly tonight in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and here.
“And what we’ve consistently heard is that no one wants nuclear-armed Iran.”
Like Nun, Panetta doesn’t want boots on the ground. He says that, as Trump hopes, changes must come when Tehran’s government collapses or surrenders, or “from within.”
Members of both parties are not thinking of causing a change of government by force, he said, but they want Tehran’s nuclear ambition to be defeated.
And when it comes to concerns about stability, it will follow Iranians at that point after seeing strong people sway around and around after being expelled, the lawmaker said.
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Smoke rises from the construction of Iran’s state television after Israel’s strike. (AP)
“The purpose of the Israeli bombing was to destroy their nuclear capabilities, not because of the change of government,” Panetta said.
“But if people see this as an opportunity, I think it’s basically a time more appropriate for Iranians to stand up than ever before.”
Given the unusual bipartisan agreement on the Iranian issue in an otherwise fractured political environment, Democrats hope for substantial debate to resolve pressing issues like Iran’s nuclear capabilities, “eternal war,” and added that Israel wants substantial debate to protect its rights.
“[Those] Panetta said.
Charles Kraitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers the media, politics and culture of Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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