Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that the U.S. military campaign against Iran has ultimately left America in a weaker strategic position, arguing that diplomacy—not continued military action—is the only realistic way to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He also warned that the conflict is exposing growing divisions within the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

During an appearance on MS Now’s Morning Joe, the Kentucky Republican described the conflict as unnecessary and said he never would have supported launching it.

“This is a war of choice, and it wouldn’t have been my choice,” Paul said.

Paul acknowledged that U.S. forces inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military but argued that the broader consequences have outweighed those battlefield successes.

“I think if you look at it objectively, one step forward, we decimated their military, but two steps backward in that they militarized the Strait (of Hormuz). The Strait has never been militarized. By any objective viewing, we are worse off than we were before the war.”

Asked by co-host Willie Geist what outcome would best serve U.S. interests, Paul answered that ending the conflict as quickly as possible should be the priority.

“The sooner the war ends, the better.”

Although Paul said eliminating Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium would be “a noble goal,” he argued that military force alone cannot accomplish that objective.

“The only way you’ll do that is you have to negotiate,” he said.

Paul’s remarks highlight the growing debate within Republican ranks over the administration’s approach to Iran. While many GOP foreign policy hawks have supported military action, others within President Donald Trump’s political base have voiced deep reservations about the United States becoming entangled in another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

That divide could create political challenges for Republicans as the midterm elections approach, with party leaders seeking to maintain support for the administration’s national security policies while addressing concerns among voters who favor a more restrained foreign policy.

Paul has become one of the leading Republican advocates for pursuing negotiations with Iran, maintaining that diplomacy offers the best chance of achieving a lasting agreement and preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons without extending the military conflict.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}