Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) claimed, during an interview with Mediaite founder Dan Abrams, that Iran “almost certainly” has a nuclear weapon as questions loom about how involved the United States will become in escalating fighting between Iran and Israel.

Lawler joined Abrams on Thursday where the Republican lawmaker endorsed the United States military becoming more directly involved with Iran and using B-52 bombers to target the country’s nuclear sites.

Lawler argued:

These are not decisions you take lightly or cavalierly. And I think every US president going back decades has made clear that Iran could not have a nuclear weapon, Republicans and Democrats. Congress has made clear they cannot have a nuclear weapon. The fact is we’re at a point where they almost undoubtedly have a nuclear weapon. And so this is the moment, if we are going to take action to do so. And I believe that the president is within his rights and I do believe it’s the right decision to use the B-52s to conduct an operation to eliminate the threat.

Abrams asked Lawler to clarify whether he believes Iran currently has a nuclear weapon or they have the capabilities to have one.

“I believe they are very close to having one. They certainly have increased their enrichment capabilities to a level in which is a major problem,” the congressman said. “And obviously over the course of the last year, going back to April of last year, they have shown a willingness, not just to fund terrorism and their proxies, but to actually launch ballistic missiles at civilian populations in Israel with the express intent of killing Jews and eradicating the state of Israel.”

At a Thursday briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Iran “absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon” and “all they need is a decision” from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. President Donald Trump has made clear Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon, and he’s hinted that the United States could become more involved in the situation in the coming weeks.

Trump recently told reporters that Iran was “very close” to having a nuclear weapon following Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifying in March that intelligence officials did not believe Iran was constructing a nuclear weapon.

Abrams argued that the United Nations nuclear watchdog The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came out shortly before an expansive attack by Israel to say Iran was not complying with its obligations with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

“That was very persuasive to me because that is not an organization that typically goes about scolding Iran. But with that said, I am still not convinced that the US has to be involved directly. Do you really believe that the U.S., as opposed to just support, as opposed to defenses, has to involved in actually helping to blow up these nuclear facilities?” Abrams asked.

Lawler, the chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, argued Israel does not have the “capability alone to do it.” The Republican lawmaker made clear he is not advocating for ground troops or “regime change,” but only for Iran’s nuclear sites to be taken out.

Lawler red-flagged what he called an “unholy alliance” between Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea and argued Americans need to look at the “totality” of what is happening in the Middle East, including Israel battling terror groups like Hamas. Abrams questioned whether Lawler “trusts” North Korea more than Iran since North Korea is already in possession of nuclear weapons.

“You mentioned North Korea as part of this axis with Russia and China and Iran, but North Korea has nuclear weapons. Do you trust them more than you do Iran?” he asked.

“It’s certainly not a matter of trust. I think obviously they’re deeply untrustworthy as well. Unfortunately, they were able to advance to the levels that they have. Obviously, South Korea, an ally, Japan, an ally, are certainly under threat because of North Korea’s capabilities,” Lawler said. “But I think when you look at over the last few years, who has taken the steps to most destabilize the free world and to attack our allies and our interests? It’s Iran.”

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