- - Rand Paul warns bombing Iran 'not the answer' to protests against regime

NICHOLAS KERRJanuary 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM

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Rand Paul warns bombing Iran 'not the answer' to protests against regime

Republican Sen. Rand Paul warned against a U.S. military intervention in Iran on Sunday after President Donald Trump threatened this week to bomb the country if it killed protesters demonstrating against the government regime.

"The only problem I have with saying, 'Oh, we're going to bomb Iran,' is that sometimes it has the opposite effect," Paul told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

"So, when you bomb a country, then people tend to rally around their own flag. They tend to see this is the -- you know, a foreign country coming in and bombing us. And so, I don't think it always has that effect," Paul said.

Iran protests continue with 116 people killed, activists say

"I wish, you know, the same as the president, I want success. I hope that the freedom movement survives," Paul added.

ABC News - PHOTO: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., appears on ABC News' "This Week" on Jan. 11, 2026.

"Do we owe it to those protesters, do you believe, to help them?" Raddatz asked.

"I don't think it's the job of the American government to be involved with every freedom movement around the world," Paul responded, arguing that bombing Iran risks rallying Iranian citizens to the government's side.

"I think the protests are directed at the Ayatollah, justifiably so, and the best way is to encourage them and say that, of course, we would recognize a government that is a freedom-loving government that allows free elections, but bombing is not the answer," he said.

"Plus," Paul added, "there is the sticking point of the Constitution that we don't let presidents bomb countries just when they feel like it. They're supposed to ask the people through the Congress for permission."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”