US Senator-Elect Abdul El-Sayed Condemns Iran War, Questions Israeli Influence on Washington

US Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who is set to become the first Muslim member of the US Senate, has strongly criticised Washington's current Middle East policy, describing the ongoing war with Iran as unnecessary and arguing that the United States should never have become involved in the conflict.

In a televised interview, the Michigan Democrat questioned Israel's influence over US foreign policy and called for a reassessment of American military assistance to the country.

Speaking about the war with Iran, El-Sayed said the United States had become trapped in a conflict it did not need to enter. He noted that previous US presidents had avoided direct military confrontation with Iran, but argued that the current administration had abandoned that cautious approach and made a serious mistake.

El-Sayed alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had influenced the US president to enter the war against Iran through meetings in the White House Situation Room. He also claimed that Netanyahu had spent decades seeking to draw Washington into a military confrontation with Tehran.

Opposing what he described as preferential treatment for Israel in American foreign policy, El-Sayed said the Israeli government should be held to the same standards of accountability as other countries.

He stressed that criticism of a government should not be confused with hostility towards its people or any particular religious community, arguing that political criticism and prejudice are entirely different matters.

El-Sayed also called for a reassessment of US arms sales and military assistance to Israel. He said Washington had a moral responsibility to ensure that American weapons were not being used to facilitate serious human rights violations.

He further expressed concern over Egypt's human rights record, arguing that the United States should suspend financial assistance to Cairo in response to allegations of human rights abuses.

His remarks come as El-Sayed prepares to enter the Senate following his historic victory in Michigan's November 3 midterm election. He defeated Republican Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. He is expected to take office when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.