Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said Israel has a right to defend itself and warned Iran could face consequences if it continues supporting Hezbollah, even as Washington and Tehran move forward with a tentative agreement aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking on Newsmax TV's "National Report," Van Orden was asked about Israel's role in peace efforts after the U.S. and Iran reached a preliminary agreement Monday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war.
The agreement, which could let oil and natural gas shipments resume through one of the world's most critical waterways, was announced by mediators but remains unsigned.
Pakistan, which helped broker the talks, said the agreement is expected to be formally signed Friday in Switzerland.
Significant obstacles remain. One of the most pressing is the continued conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group in Lebanon.
Israeli forces struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, underscoring the volatility of the situation.
"No country is ever denied the right of self-defense. They're just not," Van Orden told Newsmax.
The Wisconsin Republican said any agreement with Iran should include strict conditions and consequences for violations, pointing to President Donald Trump's negotiations with the Taliban as a model.
"President Trump established a conditions-based withdrawal from Afghanistan with the Taliban," Van Orden said. "And when the Taliban got outside of the parameters of the agreement, he struck them very hard militarily."
Van Orden argued that Trump's approach protected U.S. troops during the final year of the American military presence in Afghanistan.
"And we did not lose a single American, thank God, for the last year that we were in there," he said.
He contrasted that strategy with former President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, criticizing what he described as an "arbitrary date for withdrawal."
Van Orden said similar conditions should govern any agreement with Iran.
"So there will be conditions that must be met by Iran, or they're going to pay the price," he said.
He specifically cited Iran's support for Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a foreign terrorist organization.
"If they continue to feed Hezbollah money and arms, and Hezbollah uses those to attack Israel, there's going to be ramifications," Van Orden said.
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com