US Republicans Hail ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ Welcome Reports of Khamenei’s Death

Washington, March 2026 : Senior Republican lawmakers in the United States have welcomed reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and voiced strong support for Operation Epic Fury, the joint US–Israel military campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Republican leaders described the development as a decisive turning point for regional security and a potential opening for long-term peace in the Middle East.

Congressman Mike Lawler, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, said Khamenei’s era had effectively come to an end. He accused the Iranian leader of presiding over decades of hostility toward the United States and its allies.

“For decades, Ayatollah Khamenei led a regime that openly chanted ‘Death to America,’ armed and funded proxies responsible for the deaths of American service members, targeted our allies, including Israel, and violently suppressed Iranians—especially women and young girls—seeking basic freedoms and human rights,” Lawler said. “The world is safer as a result of his death. We now have a chance for lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Congresswoman Ann Wagner echoed that assessment, describing Khamenei as the architect of what she called a global “regime of terror.” According to Wagner, the elimination of Iran’s top leadership marked a definitive break from years of repression and violence.

“The Israeli strikes eliminating the Ayatollah and much of his senior leadership brings this brutal reign of persecution to a necessary and long-overdue end,” she said. Wagner added that the Iranian people now face a historic opportunity. “The people of Iran can now choose their own destiny,” she stated.

Backing the broader military campaign, Congressman Gabe Evans said Operation Epic Fury was essential to protecting American national security. He argued that the operation was not only about dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities but also about countering immediate threats to the United States and its allies.

“For 47 years the Iranian regime has terrorized its own people and supported terrorist groups that killed Americans and our allies,” Evans said. He added that he was praying for the safety of US service members involved in the mission, calling their role “vital to defending freedom and stability.”

Congressman Chris Smith said Iran had long held the international community hostage through nuclear brinkmanship and state-sponsored terrorism. According to Smith, diplomatic avenues had been fully exhausted, leaving military action as the only remaining option.

“For far too long, Iran has used the threat of nuclear weapons and terror to coerce the world,” Smith said. He noted that President Donald Trump had repeatedly warned Tehran of consequences if it failed to halt its nuclear programme and violent crackdowns on dissent. “President Trump is a man of his word,” Smith added.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew framed the moment as a historic opportunity for peace. He said the region was witnessing unprecedented unity among the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.

“This is the timeless dream of peace in the Middle East finally coming into focus,” Van Drew said, adding that regional partners were now “standing shoulder to shoulder, united as never before.”

Providing an operational update, US Central Command confirmed that American and partner forces had successfully repelled hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks following the initial strikes. The command reported no US casualties or combat-related injuries, describing damage to installations as minimal.

Congressman Pete Sessions praised the campaign as a clear demonstration of American resolve. “Operation Epic Fury is a decisive and commendable display of American strength,” he said. “Threats to our nation, our national security, and our allies will not go unanswered.”

Iran has been under sweeping US sanctions for decades over its nuclear programme and support for armed groups across the Middle East. Disputes over uranium enrichment, ballistic missile development and regional proxy networks have repeatedly fuelled tensions, culminating in the current confrontation that Republican leaders now say could reshape the region’s future.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)