Roger Marshall

With the Iran war coming to an apparent end, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall believes Kansans will be safer and more prosperous.

The Republican senator held a June 23 press call with Kansas media to talk about President Donald Trump's memorandum of understanding with Iran. The Capital-Journal asked Marshall to explain how Kansans are better off now than they were before the war started.

"I would love to," he said. "For 47 years, Kansans have lived in fear of Iran. Through terrorism, they are killing thousands of their own people, especially Christians, and they're funding terrorism around the world. This is the world's largest leader in terrorism funding as well.

"So we've destroyed 85% of their military. We've destroyed their economy as well. We've defanged this largest terrorist group in the country."

Marshall said, "Iran has proxies in this country right now," but the U.S. has cut back on Iran's ability to fund terrorism.

"They killed hundreds of marines, probably close to 1,000 Americans over these last 47 years," Marshall said. "Could you imagine if Iran had a nuclear weapon, what it would mean? They would shut down the Strait of Hormuz. They would charge a toll. Gasoline would be $25 a gallon right now if we allowed them to do that. And they would hold the world hostage right now.

"So I applaud President Trump for standing up and taking them on."

However, he said: "I wish we didn't have to. I would have much rather some other generation have taken care of this problem. Just as the greatest generation had to take on Hitler, we had to take on these Iranian terrorists right now."

"Most importantly," Marshall said, "is that Americans will be safer for generations to come. And if we can keep that Strait of Hormuz open and keep the flow of gas and fertilizer open more long-term, it has to be a win for Americans as well.

"So I think it creates certainty for generations to come as well. So we are certainly a safer nation, and I think we'll be a more prosperous station at the end of the day as well."