Iran reacted sharply to the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, with the country’s Foreign Ministry on Monday describing the late lawmaker as “hot-headed" and “sharp-tongued" and saying his political legacy was defined by “support for aggression".
Graham, 71, died on Saturday evening following a “brief and sudden illness", according to a statement issued by his office. US media reported that emergency responders were sent to his Capitol Hill residence after a cardiac arrest call.
Commenting on the senator’s death, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Graham’s legacy would be remembered negatively.
“Azrail (the Angel of Death) is just. For such an individual, whose entire life’s legacy was malice and support for aggression, nothing but a dark record will remain in the minds of people", Baghaei said.
“The death of this hot-headed and sharp-tongued senator will certainly not grieve the heart of any free person", he added.
Iran’s state-run media and supporters of the country's ruling establishment also welcomed the news on Sunday. While television presenters mocked the late senator on air, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu privately mourned the loss of a longtime political ally.
One television presenter “congratulated" Iranians, saying: “Congratulate the great nation of Iran on the fact that Lindsey Graham—the warmongering, anti-Iran U.S. senator—has gone straight to hell."
A Republican senator from South Carolina and one of Trump’s closest political associates, Graham was widely recognised for his hawkish views on US foreign policy. He consistently backed American military assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia, strongly supported Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and was an outspoken critic of Iran’s leadership.
Following the February 28 US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Graham called for the Iranian regime to be overthrown, arguing that the government's collapse would transform the economic landscape of West Asia.
President Trump also paid tribute to Graham, recalling that the senator had recently returned from Ukraine and had been deeply committed to his work.
“Well, it’s devastating. I thought he was fine. He called me last night. He just got back from Ukraine. And he had a great time. He was telling me about the trip. He was working very, very hard, because we know he wanted to make America happy," Trump told Tapper.
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