All INdiana Politics for July 12, 2026 INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Rep. Marlon Stutzman says he views recent U.S. military strikes as a strategy to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, emphasizing the need to hold Iran accountable for its agreements. During All INdiana Politics, Stutzman sai d, “This is just the effort to hold the Iranians accountable to the MOU. These strikes are part of the consequences. The Iranians know that if they break the agreement, there will be actions taken to bring them back to negotiations.” Stutzman said the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has repeatedly violated agreements and asserted that “the only thing they understand is raw power.” He says President Trump is using military force to pressure Iran to return to talks, warning that if the U.S. walks away, Iran will resume developing its military capabilities and nuclear ambitions. Stutzman says ground forces may eventually be necessary to secure nuclear materials, but downplayed the immediacy of that threat. He expressed greater concern over the IRGC’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz and use of proxies such as Hezbollah. Stutzman, who serves on the House Budget Committee, said there have been no new discussions in Congress about suspending the federal gas tax due to the conflict with Iran. “The federal budget is not in good shape.” “There’s too much debt and deficit,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to address fraud and waste in welfare and healthcare programs. Stutzman joined other lawmakers in demanding that the WNBA review its policies. He stopped short of calling for a federal investigation but urged the league to hold players accountable for violent conduct. “If it wasn’t for Caitlin Clark, the WNBA would probably be defunct,” Stutzman said, crediting Clark with bringing new energy to the league and inspiring young athletes. Stutzman called for the WNBA to take fouls seriously and ensure player safety, drawing a comparison to workplace standards outside of sports. “If that happened in a factory, there would be legal consequences,” he said. On foreign policy, Stutzman said he supports removing Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, citing improved compliance from the Syrian leadership. “We’re watching their actions more than their words, but they’ve followed through on their commitments,” he said. Stutzman acknowledged ongoing tensions within Syria but described delisting as appropriate given recent progress. ...read more read less