Trump’s Strike on Iran: Rep. Brian Mast Calls It “Decisive” Defense Against Imminent Threat

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, Rep. Brian Mast stated that President Donald Trump took necessary measures against Iran to counter an imminent and longstanding threat to the United States.

Mast described the January 2024 attack at Tower 22 in Jordan — which killed three U.S. service members — as evidence of Iran’s ongoing aggression. He said, “Iran has been an imminent threat against the United States of America.”

Mast further noted that Iran continues to fund, train, and support terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which target American forces and allies. He added that Iran does not penalize proxy groups for attacks but instead increases their resources upon successful operations: “They don’t say, you hit an American merchant marine vessel or an American Navy vessel, we’re going to cease our funding for you. They say, you were successful in conducting this operation. Let us give you more and greater support.”

Mast criticized former President Joe Biden’s administration for what he called emboldening Iran by removing Yemen from the state sponsor of terror list and releasing billions in funds. He contrasted it with Trump’s approach: “President Trump is conducting negotiations in the exact opposite way. Number one, giving them a timeline. Number two, not giving them any funds or resources in return. And number three, when they didn’t meet our demands about ending their nuclear program, ending their ballistic missile program, and ending their support for proxies — instead of giving them money, he gave them death.”

Mast also praised the three service members killed in the operation as “American heroes,” stating: “I love them, I didn’t know them. Those were my brothers.”