Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and received two Bronze Stars including one with a V device for valor, stated Sunday that many Iranians are celebrating Saturday’s U.S. strikes against Iran’s regime as “47 years of oppressive history ended in one fell swoop.”
In remarks to host Greta Van Susteren, Crenshaw said, “There’s going to be some crocodile tears shed, but I think the vast majority of Iranians want to be free.” He also expressed his condolences for the loss of three U.S. service members and injuries to others in the attacks.
Crenshaw noted that Iranian dissidents in the United States have expressed support for the strikes. “You look at all the dissidents that you see in the United States, whether it’s Los Angeles or I think the second largest diaspora is here in Houston,” he said. “We see the Iranian people all the time here and in my district and in the Houston area, and they’re celebrating. I’m not sure you can find anyone who’s not celebrating.”
The congressman added that a certain class benefits from the regime but its grip is weakening following reports of senior leader deaths. “Just because you’ve cut off the head of the snake and many other heads underneath him,” he said, “that doesn’t mean the hard work is over.” He referenced estimates that 40 upper-echelon leadership figures have been killed.
Crenshaw stated that while the Iranian president remains alive, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, and the regime appears unable to control retaliation or defense from a central location. He pointed to President Donald Trump’s objective of enabling “the Iranian people to take over,” saying, “If that’s going to be the goal, I think we need to make sure they are enabled with everything possible.”
Crenshaw also addressed casualties: “We have three killed and five critically injured. Their families should know this: They’ll never be forgotten.” He emphasized service members’ understanding of risks, stating, “When we sign up, we choose to defend the United States. This isn’t just about liberating the Iranian people. That by itself would not be a good enough reason. This regime has threatened, killed hundreds, maybe thousands of Americans before.”
