Sen. Fetterman Open to U.S. Airstrikes on Iran Amid Civilian Protests

Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has indicated he is receptive to the idea of additional U.S. airstrikes on Iran. This comes on the heels of reports detailing severe civilian casualties among protesters in the country. Fetterman referenced a previous operation last year that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities during heightened hostilities with Israel.

“They’re literally slaughtering thousands of people and executing their own people in the streets,” Fetterman expressed in an interview on “Hannity.” He emphasized that the military action against the nuclear site was justified, suggesting that this kind of approach should be considered again in light of the ongoing violence.

Reports indicate that thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Iranians may have died, with many more believed to be imprisoned. Fetterman contended that military responses, rather than sanctions, are the effective way to confront the Iranian government’s actions.

“Sanctions and other measures aren’t really working. What really worked against Iran was the strikes,” he stated, adding that the previous military action shifted the dynamics across the Middle East, which he argues is crucial for addressing the current unrest in Iran.

This discussion harks back to Operation Midnight Hammer, a U.S. military strike from June 2025, which aimed at several Iranian nuclear sites to significantly hinder Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid rising tensions in the region. While U.S. officials hailed this mission as a success, the Iranian authorities downplayed its effects.

Fetterman believes that U.S. involvement could be pivotal in “turning this around” and potentially dismantling the current regime, pointing to the government’s actions against its youth as particularly egregious. “Bodies are piled up in body bags everywhere,” he remarked, highlighting the severity of the situation.

He made it clear that any future actions wouldn’t necessitate ground troop involvement, saying, “This is not about the ground,” and distancing current considerations from past military engagements like in Iraq. “This is us standing with the protesters,” he claimed.

Fetterman remains hopeful that the ongoing protests will lead to significant political change in Iran, urging, “Why wouldn’t we want to be ready to deliver the shock that ultimately breaks this system?”