Wicker Urges Trump to 'Finish What We Started' in Iran as GOP Hawks Weigh In

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., 

 

is urging President Donald Trump to escalate U.S. military action against Iran, joining a growing bloc of Republican hawks pressing the White House to move beyond diplomacy and intensify pressure on Tehran.

The push from Wicker comes as Trump met Friday with senior national security advisers at the White House to review options on Iran, including whether to resume military operations amid stalled talks over a potential diplomatic framework, according to reports. The session included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

 

 and other top officials, underscoring how central the Iran file has become inside the administration as negotiations falter.

The New York Post reported Thursday that Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Trump to “finish what we started” in Iran as negotiations remain stalled over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief and broader limits on Tehran’s nuclear program.

 

Wicker’s comments place him among the most vocal Republicans arguing the administration should take a tougher approach following recent U.S. and Israeli military action tied to Iran and amid deepening skepticism among conservatives that diplomacy can permanently halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., 

 

has similarly argued in recent weeks that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure should be dismantled entirely rather than constrained through a negotiated agreement.

Cotton joined Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., 

 

in introducing a resolution declaring that any acceptable nuclear deal must require Iran to “completely dismantle and destroy” its nuclear enrichment capabilities.

Cotton has also defended recent U.S. and Israeli military operations involving Iran, arguing Tehran’s nuclear program and regional proxy network require a more forceful response than previous diplomatic efforts.

The Republican push for a harder line comes as divisions over Trump’s Iran strategy have widened on Capitol Hill.

The Senate earlier this week advanced a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s ability to continue military operations against Iran without congressional approval, with several Republicans joining Democrats in backing the measure.

House Republicans abruptly scrapped a planned vote on a companion Iran war powers measure this week amid concerns it could unexpectedly pass with bipartisan support because of GOP absences and defections from Republicans uneasy with Trump’s military posture toward Tehran.

The canceled vote underscored growing tensions inside the Republican Party between foreign policy hawks pushing aggressive action against Iran and lawmakers warning Congress risks surrendering too much authority over war powers to the executive branch.

Trump has continued to publicly insist he prefers a negotiated settlement with Iran, though he has repeatedly warned the U.S. could launch further military strikes if Tehran refuses to sharply curb uranium enrichment and missile development.

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.