Lindsey Graham, a senior US Republican senator, has passed away following a short and sudden illness.

His office announced in a statement that Mr. Graham passed away on Saturday evening. The statement added: "Senator Graham's family asks for the public's prayers and support at this time and requests that their privacy be respected during this very difficult period."

The Republican senator from South Carolina was a prominent figure in the country's conservative movement and a staunch critic of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In recent years, Graham had repeatedly supported the maximum pressure policy against Tehran and called for intensified sanctions against Iran. In his remarks, he also cited Iran's nuclear program, the Islamic Republic's regional activities, and the role of Iran-affiliated proxy forces in the Middle East as among Washington's primary concerns.