Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said Tuesday that he has not seen any proof that would justify the United States becoming involved in the ongoing war with Iran, arguing that those calling for American intervention should take responsibility for bringing about change themselves rather than expecting the U.S. military to do it.

During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Ed Henry The Big Take,” Paul said Congress must first determine whether the United States is actually facing a direct and immediate threat before supporting any military action.

“Is it in our national interest to go to war?” he asked host Ed Henry. “Is there a benefit that the country needs? Are we imminently going to be attacked?”

Paul said he has not come across intelligence suggesting that Iran posed an urgent danger that would require the United States to enter the conflict.

“And I don’t see any imminent nature of being attacked or an imminent sense that it is in our best interest to be at war in the Middle East,” he said.

He also expressed skepticism about longstanding warnings that Iran is on the brink of producing a nuclear weapon, noting that similar claims have circulated for many years without being backed by conclusive evidence.

“I’ve seen no intelligence information to say, ‘Oh, yes, they were putting the final screws on the nuclear weapon that they were about to launch,'” Paul said.

“Our intelligence agencies have not produced anything that things have changed.”

Paul further pointed to previous attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, saying there is little sign that Tehran is currently close to completing a nuclear device.

“Well, the Trump administration told us last summer they obliterated their nuclear weapons; they destroyed them,” Paul said.

He suggested that Iran may instead still be attempting to restore elements of its enrichment capabilities following those strikes.

“If anything, they would be struggling to restart their enrichment program,” Paul said.

The senator also criticized some of the strongest advocates for U.S. military involvement, arguing that many of them would not be the ones sent into combat.

“I see these expatriates over here, some of them that want to go back and rule Iran,” he said.

“They’re saying we have to have American GIs on the ground. We’ve got to have the Americans do it.”

Paul said that if Iran’s leadership is to be replaced, the effort must come from within the country rather than through outside military intervention.

“If you want to be the leader of Iran, you go back, raise an army, and fight the ayatollahs,” he said.

While expressing hope that the Iranian people will ultimately gain freedom from their rulers, Paul said it is not the role of the United States to impose that outcome through war.

“I wish for the best for the Iranian people. I just don’t think we can be at war everywhere to free oppressed people and that, ultimately, if you want your liberty, you have to fight for it,” he said.

“There would have to be fighting in the streets, and the Iranians will have to fight for their liberty; we can’t give it to them,” Paul added.

{Matzav.com}