Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has broken sharply with his party, openly backing U.S. action against Iran’s ruling regime and echoing the Trump administration’s posture of standing with Iranian protesters and warning Tehran’s leadership to stand down.
Appearing on CNN amid escalating unrest in Iran, Fetterman said he supports U.S. intervention aimed at pressuring the regime as it moves violently to suppress nationwide demonstrations.
“Those strikes make sense, absolutely,” Fetterman said.
“I do support those things.
“I’m saying I’m open to that.
“And I am actually inspired by the real kinds of courage that those protesters in Iran are demonstrating now.”
The senator went further, condemning Tehran’s actions and arguing that the Islamic regime has exposed its desperation.
“So I don’t know why we can’t all want to support that to back them and now bring that awful regime to its knees,” he continued.
“They’re so desperate.
“They killed the internet, and now they’re mowing down their own citizens.”
Fetterman’s comments come as reports from human rights organizations and eyewitnesses describe a brutal crackdown, with thousands reportedly killed as security forces attempt to crush dissent.
Iranian authorities have imposed internet blackouts and deployed armed units across major cities as protests spread nationwide.
The Democrat senator’s remarks place him squarely in alignment with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly voiced support for Iranian protesters while issuing blunt warnings to the regime.
Trump has said the United States is “closely monitoring” Tehran’s actions and warned Iranian leaders that violent repression of peaceful demonstrators would carry severe consequences.
In recent statements, the president has made clear that U.S. military options remain on the table if the regime continues targeting civilians, while also emphasizing that the American people stand with those seeking freedom from authoritarian rule.
Trump has framed the unrest as a historic moment, arguing Iran is facing an unprecedented internal challenge driven by popular resistance rather than foreign pressure alone.
Fetterman’s rhetoric mirrors that posture, particularly his insistence that the regime’s collapse would benefit global stability.
“For me, I think we can all agree that the world would be better, safer, and more just if you could break that regime,” the senator said.
WATCH:
Fetterman’s comments also echoed longtime conservative voices calling for decisive action.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich argued that symbolic support is insufficient and that Western leaders should seize what he described as the regime’s moment of vulnerability.
“It is not enough to sympathize with the Iranian people,” Gingrich wrote.
“The goal of every Western leader should be to destroy the Iranian dictatorship at this moment of its vulnerability.”
It is not enough to sympathize with the Iranian people in their struggle to get free from the dictatorship which is clearly killing dissidents and fighting for its very survival. It is not enough to have government leaders publicly talking about support for the Iranian people but…
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 12, 2026
Fetterman’s break is notable within a Democratic Party that has largely favored restraint and diplomatic engagement, even as the regime escalates its internal crackdown.
By aligning himself with Trump in supporting protesters, warning Tehran, and keeping military pressure on the table, Fetterman has positioned himself well outside his party’s prevailing foreign policy consensus.
As protests continue and the death toll rises, the divide in Washington is becoming clearer.
While many Democrats urge caution, Trump and a growing number of voices across party lines argue that the United States should stand decisively with Iranians demanding freedom and ensure the brutal regime understands that continued violence will not go unanswered.
READ MORE – Iranian Protesters Rename Tehran Street After Trump amid Anti-Regime Uprising
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