U.S. Senator Ted Cruz endorsed President Donald Trump’s call for new leadership in Iran during a Fox News interview, as protests against the Iranian regime and its crackdown on demonstrators continued.
Cruz, a Republican from Texas, described Iran as “the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism” for the past 50 years and said the regime funds 90% of Hamas and Hezbollah. He highlighted the courage of over a million Iranians protesting what he called a “tyrannical regime.”
“You look at Iran. Iran, for 50 years, has been the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism. They have paid for and funded 90% of the funding of Hamas comes from Iran. Ninety percent of the funding for Hezbollah comes from Iran,” Cruz said in the interview. “Iran funds terrorists all across the globe… there are over a million Iranians that are showing unbelievable courage, standing up against this tyrannical regime.”
I agree with President Trump — Iran needs new leadership.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 18, 2026
America stands with the people of Iran. pic.twitter.com/R0XBWagNTI
Cruz praised Trump’s stance, noting the president has been “very strong” in supporting protesters and warning the regime against violence. He specifically referenced Trump’s January 17 statement calling for regime change.
“And I got to say President Trump has been very strong in telling the regime number one we stand with people do not target and murder protesters America stands with you,” Cruz said. “In just two days a really important step occurred where president Trump came out unequivocally said it is time for new leadership of Iran. It is time for the Ayatollah Khamenei, his religious dictatorship to end. I think that’s massively important.”
Trump’s comment came in an interview with Politico. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said, criticizing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for using violence against protesters. “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death,” he added.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded on January 18, warning that any aggression against Khamenei would constitute “all-out war” against the Iranian nation. “Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation,” Pezeshkian wrote on social media.
اگر سختی و تنگنایی در زندگی مردم عزیز #ایران وجود دارد، یکی از عوامل اصلی آن دشمنی دیرینه و تحریمهای غیرانسانی دولت امریکا و همپیمانان اوست.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) January 18, 2026
تعرض به رهبری معظم کشورمان بهمنزله جنگ تمام عیار با ملت ایران است.
(Translation) “If the people of [Iran] face hardship and difficulties in their lives, one of the main reasons for it is the longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States government and its allies. Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation.”
Cruz has repeatedly voiced support for the Iranian people on social media in recent days, posting messages such as “America stands with the people of Iran” and “Free Iran.”
