McCaul says Israel strikes are 'perfect opportunity' for Iranians to overthrow Islamic regime

EXCLUSIVE: A elder lawmaker successful the U.S. House of Representatives said the existent struggle with Israel and Iran could beryllium a singular accidental for Iranians to overthrow their authoritarian Islamic government.

"Now that their apical enactment has been taken out, if there's ever a clip for the radical to emergence up against this theocracy, I would deliberation the conditions are set," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital connected Friday.

McCaul was portion of a radical of lawmakers successful the Middle East precocious past month. Part of that travel was successful Israel, wherever the legislature delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others.

"I deliberation this is the cleanable accidental – it would person been amended if, I don't cognize what level of coordination took place, but I mean, erstwhile an lawsuit similar this happens – to person this theocracy that's successful power, retired of power, and liberate the radical of Iran," McCaul said. "The bulk bash not similar the Ayatollah. There's a existent accidental for that to conscionable end."

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Rep. Michael McCaul, president emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke with Fox News Digital astir Israel's strikes connected Iran. (Getty Images)

Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes successful and astir Tehran opening Thursday nighttime Eastern Time. The Israeli authorities said the strikes were pre-emptive, and that Tehran was approaching atomic limb capabilities. 

"They were precise adjacent to a atomic bomb," McCaul said.

Israel said it deed Iranian atomic sites, and that its strikes killed aggregate elder Iranian subject commanders and atomic scientists. Iran responded by launching missiles toward Israeli territory connected Friday afternoon.

McCaul said it was a "major setback" for Iran but that helium was definite that officials successful Tehran would respond.

"When we were successful the region, they felt definite that Iran would onslaught our subject sites successful Saudi, Jordan and the UAE," helium said.

"The large speech besides astatine that clip was, springiness CENTCOM clip to get prepared successful the portion to get each of its strategical assets successful spot for a response. And my knowing is … each of our bases and subject sites and embassies are connected precocious alert."

The Texas Republican besides recalled what helium present believes were telling signs that immoderate benignant of subject cognition was imminent. 

McCaul met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu successful caller weeks. (Israeli Government Press Office via AP)

While successful Israel past month, McCaul said helium asked Netanyahu astir reports that Iran was preparing a atomic strike.

"And helium said, ‘If you don’t fight, you die,' He said that respective times successful the discourse of striking Iran," McCaul said. "He said that, ‘I volition onslaught Iran with oregon without you.'"

"I said, ‘Well, sir, we request you to coordinate with us. Whether oregon not the president decides to bash this with you, you request to coordinate with the United States, our allies and partners successful the region.’"

Indeed, President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel's main governmental anchor Bret Baier connected Thursday helium had anterior cognition that Israel was going to behaviour pre-emptive strikes connected Iran.

"Iran cannot person a atomic bomb, and we are hoping to get backmost to the negotiating table. We volition see. There are respective radical successful enactment successful Iran that volition not beryllium coming back," Trump said.

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Firefighters and radical cleanable up the country of an detonation successful Tehran, Iran, pursuing Israeli airstrikes connected Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Trump said the onslaught happened connected Day 61 aft Iran had a 60-day model to marque a woody with the U.S. to incorporate its atomic enrichment. He besides said helium hoped Iran would travel backmost to the negotiating array aft the attack.

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But McCaul was not optimistic Tehran would hold to capable standards.

"I just, I person small religion successful the negotiations, to beryllium honorable with you," helium said.

It's not wide arsenic of present whether those talks volition resume. 

But if they were to autumn done again, McCaul said, Iranians would person inducement to propulsion for a caller authorities "once and for all."

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised a "legitimate and almighty response" to Israel's strikes.