Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, according to a statement issued by his office. His communications director announced that Graham passed away on Saturday evening.

Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was regarded as one of the Republican Party’s most influential voices on foreign policy, defence and national security. Over his congressional career, he served on several key Senate committees and remained a prominent figure in Washington for more than two decades.

He was widely recognised for his unwavering support for Israel and consistently advocated strong U.S. military and diplomatic backing for the country. Graham also took a hardline position on Iran, calling for increased pressure on Tehran through sanctions and other measures.

His comments occasionally drew attention in Pakistan. In 2025, after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested Pakistan could play a role in facilitating dialogue with Iran, Graham publicly urged the United States not to rely on Pakistan as an intermediary, arguing that Islamabad should not be involved in efforts to engage Tehran.

Although Graham was initially a sharp critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, the two later developed a close political alliance. He went on to become one of Trump’s most prominent supporters in the Senate and frequently defended the former president’s domestic and foreign policy agenda.

His death marks the end of one of the longest-serving and most influential Republican careers in the U.S. Senate.