Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stunned analysts Sam Stein and Will Saletan during an NBC News interview Sunday by suggesting Saudi Arabia should help select Iran's next leader following U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. When asked if the administration had identified a new Iranian leader, Graham revealed he had discussed "ideas for transition" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who reportedly influenced Trump to strike Iran. Stein questioned whether the U.S. was giving Saudis veto power over Iran's leadership. Saletan called Graham's comments "totally crazy," noting they contradicted Graham's earlier assertion that Iranians should choose their own leader. Saletan characterized the suggestion that Iran would accept Saudi Arabia determining its government as "insane," questioning Graham's intelligence. The remarks raised concerns about Saudi influence over U.S. Middle East policy.
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