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Graham Smacks Down NBC Talking Points on Iran Deal: 'Anybody Could Have Done Better'

July 15, 2015

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) continued vocalizing his strong opposition to the Iran nuclear deal Wednesday on Today, dismissing one anchor's talking points on the deal with a sarcastic, "Please."

"You're infusing the largest state sponsor of terrorism with more money and more weapons," he said. "Not a good deal."

Co-host Willie Geist asked Graham, a candidate for the Republican nomination for president, what he would tell Iran in any negotiations were he in the White House.

"I would tell the Iranians you're not going to get a penny as long as you are you are the largest state sponsor of terrorism," Graham said. "I would tell the Iranians we are not going to lift the U.N. arms embargo until you stop toppling your neighbors. I would make sure you never take inspections away as long as they were the largest state sponsor of terrorism."

Co-host Savannah Guthrie said, "Secretary Kerry says that sounds good, that's a good soundbite, but ultimately it's fantasy."

"Oh, please," Graham said under his breath. "Please."

"You know what's a fantasy is to believe that the Ayatollah was building a power plant, not a bomb," Graham said. "A fantasy is to believe that this deal will not lead to a nuclear arms race in the Mideast. A fantasy is to believe that when they chant 'Death to Israel,' they're just kidding. This is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, where the Jewish people were almost wiped out. Now you've given their chief antagonist, the Ayatollah and Iran, a pathway to a nuclear weapon. You've enriched him, more weapons to wreak havoc on the region and putting us at risk. This is a terrible deal. Anybody could have done better, and you have taken a can of gasoline and thrown it on a fire, as far as I'm concerned."