Mast says U.S. strike on Iran likely if diplomacy fails
February 22, 2026 | House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee, House, Legislative, Federal
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WASHINGTON — Congressman Brian Mast, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in a television interview that he expects diplomacy will be offered to Iran but predicted Tehran will refuse and that the United States could move to strike.
"It's destruction or diplomacy," Mast said, adding that he expects the administration will act to "protect the homeland of the United States of America" if Iran rejects a diplomatic off-ramp. He cited what he described as continued threats to Americans, including "three American service members killed by the hand of Iran, while they were in Jordan." Mast said U.S. carrier strike groups are positioned in the region and could be used if the threat escalates.
Mast named Iran's support for proxies as a central danger, saying Tehran arms and directs groups such as the Houthis and Hezbollah "to kill Americans" and to attack U.S. merchant and naval vessels. He also said Iran seeks ballistic missiles and nuclear capability, which he described as an unacceptable escalation of lethality.
Host noted that Sen. Marco Rubio was scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders, and asked Mast to assess the specific threat. Mast responded that the administration will act when it determines action will improve security, and referenced prior U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure and the use of B-2 bombers in earlier enforcement of nonproliferation measures.
Mast called regime change in Iran "inevitable," saying the regime's treatment of its citizens and ongoing threats make change likely, but he framed current remarks as a prediction about political outcomes rather than an announced U.S. policy. The interview did not record any formal White House announcement of military action; Mast characterized his remarks as expectations and justification for possible use of force.
Next steps were not detailed in the interview; the host referenced a presidential deadline in the first week of March, which Mast said could trigger action if Iran does not accept diplomacy.
"It's destruction or diplomacy," Mast said, adding that he expects the administration will act to "protect the homeland of the United States of America" if Iran rejects a diplomatic off-ramp. He cited what he described as continued threats to Americans, including "three American service members killed by the hand of Iran, while they were in Jordan." Mast said U.S. carrier strike groups are positioned in the region and could be used if the threat escalates.
Mast named Iran's support for proxies as a central danger, saying Tehran arms and directs groups such as the Houthis and Hezbollah "to kill Americans" and to attack U.S. merchant and naval vessels. He also said Iran seeks ballistic missiles and nuclear capability, which he described as an unacceptable escalation of lethality.
Host noted that Sen. Marco Rubio was scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders, and asked Mast to assess the specific threat. Mast responded that the administration will act when it determines action will improve security, and referenced prior U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure and the use of B-2 bombers in earlier enforcement of nonproliferation measures.
Mast called regime change in Iran "inevitable," saying the regime's treatment of its citizens and ongoing threats make change likely, but he framed current remarks as a prediction about political outcomes rather than an announced U.S. policy. The interview did not record any formal White House announcement of military action; Mast characterized his remarks as expectations and justification for possible use of force.
Next steps were not detailed in the interview; the host referenced a presidential deadline in the first week of March, which Mast said could trigger action if Iran does not accept diplomacy.
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