House Speaker Johnson urges Iranians to seize 'moment of opportunity'

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday called on the people of Iran to take advantage of what he described as a historic opportunity for freedom, emphasizing US support for the Iranian people while stressing that America will not engage in nation-building.

“It’s time for the people of Iran to step up and seize this moment of opportunity for them, the one that they have long awaited to have freedom there. We are encouraging that. We’re hopeful for that. I think our NATO allies and our other allies around the world are watching with great anticipation and hope. I suspect that the entire world will reach out a hand of encouragement and assistance as is needed to help them," Johnson said.

“We have no ability to get into the nation building business. We don’t do that. We’re not the world’s policeman. America has enough trouble of our own. But I think this is a great development for the people there to be able to stand on their own two feet and seize this moment of opportunity. We’re certainly hopeful and prayerful that they will and that no other innocent people are killed," he added.

"Iran, by some estimates, murdered tens of thousands of their own citizens just within the last several weeks. Those people are now deceased. There are still dangerous folks there, but there are more good people. There are more people who desire to have freedom and liberty, and there are terrorists and tyrants in the world. I’m grateful for that this is their moment to step up, and I hope they will," Johnson said.