Eli Crane Says Iran Was 'Going to Have to be Dealt With' Eventually

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) suggested that the recent conflict with Iran, whose resolution remains uncertain, was somewhat inevitable in a recent discussion with Arizona radio host Jason Zinzilieta, even as he and voters did not want another war in the Middle East.

Speaking as a combat veteran, Rep. Crane said he has lost friends and met the families of deceased soldiers who understandably do not want to see more American lives lost.

"I also understand and believe, and I know not everybody shares this belief, but I believe that Iran has been a problem for a very long time, and at some point was probably going to have to be dealt with," he expressed.

The Islamist regime of Iran has operated through numerous proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, while also calling the United States "the Great Satan" and Israel "the Little Satan," he noted.

"This is something that often gets overlooked," the Arizona congressman said. "If you study their eschatology and what they believe about the end times, they believe for them to bring back their messianic figure, who they call the Mahdi, they would have to wage war against the West, primarily the Jews and the Christians. And that is a scary thing. And they absolutely— their upper echelons of government absolutely believe that."

"When you are dealing with a group that is that radical, I think you need to take them seriously."

Crane admitted that he does not have the same level of intelligence data that President Donald Trump has looked at, and has prayed to God that He "gave [Trump] the wisdom to make the right call at the right time, and I am hoping that it ends as soon as possible."

Crane previously expressed the same sentiment on The Matt Gaetz Show at the beginning of April, saying, "I would like to see the President declaw and defang the Iranians who have been a problem for a very long time."