Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said on Thursday it remains unclear whether Iran is stalling diplomatically and whether U.S. military action could occur, arguing that a mix of pressure on Tehran and internal unrest inside the country could shape a pivotal moment in its history.

On “Ed Henry The Big Take,” Kiley declined to predict whether the United States would ultimately take military action against Iran, saying it remains to be seen how events will unfold.

Kiley said Iran’s ruling regime is facing unusual constraints, even as concerns persist about its behavior and intentions.

Kiley described Iran as “extremely repressive,” accusing its leaders of inflicting “untold misery” on their own citizens and branding the country the world’s leading exporter of terrorism.

At the same time, he said the regime has been weakened, citing what he called effective operations aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“The regime in Iran is both, number one, extremely repressive, as you know, caused untold misery to its own citizens, has exported terror, is the leading exporter of terror anywhere in the world by a long shot,” Kiley said.

“But number two, is substantially weakened.”

Kiley pointed to recent unrest in Iran as another major development, saying citizens have risen up to demand freedom and political change. He suggested those movements could signal a turning point for the country, depending on how the situation develops.

“You saw the folks, the people of Iran, who have risen up and are demanding freedom, are demanding a new era for that country,” Kiley said.

“There are a lot of factors in play that I think could well change the course of history for the people of Iran right now.”

When asked directly whether Iran is merely buying time and whether U.S. military action might occur in the near future, Kiley emphasized uncertainty.

He said the hope is that meaningful change comes from within Iran, but he acknowledged open questions about whether force could be used before that happens.

“That’s the hope, is that there’s going to be changes,” Kiley said. “The question is whether there’s going to be U.S. military action in between now and then.”

The comments come amid heightened scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence as U.S. lawmakers continue to debate how best to counter the Tehran regime while avoiding broader conflict.