WASHINGTON — Following a classified briefing held on Thursday, Senators offered a divided response regarding President Donald Trump’s airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Republicans largely praised the mission, while Democrats voiced concerns and skepticism.
The briefing was conducted by high-ranking officials including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Originally slated for Tuesday, the session aimed to inform senators of the strike’s impact.
Republicans expressed satisfaction, although opinions on the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities differed. Sen. Tom Cotton described the attack as delivering a “major blow” with “catastrophic damage” inflicted upon Iranian infrastructure. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asserted, “Their operational capability was obliterated. There is nobody working there tonight. It was highly effective.”
In contrast, Democrats questioned the administration’s actions and the extent of congressional input. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer argued that the briefing resulted in more questions than clarity. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., downplayed the operation’s efficacy, suggesting it only set Iran’s program back by mere months, opposing claims of complete destruction.
Amidst these differing views, the Senate is deliberating a resolution mandating that future military actions against Iran require congressional approval. Some Republicans alongside Democrats argue that the President acted beyond his authority by not consulting Congress prior to the strikes.
A similar briefing for House representatives is scheduled for Friday. A preliminary intelligence report from U.S. agencies suggested that Iran’s nuclear program was merely temporarily hindered, disputing assurances from both Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, in a Pentagon briefing, labeled the mission a historic success. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Ratcliffe publicly supported Trump’s declarations, with Gabbard emphasizing that Iran would need years to rebuild the targeted facilities.
While the majority of Republicans defend Trump’s actions, some have expressed reservations. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., raised constitutional concerns over the War Powers Act, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, highlighted the necessity for congressional oversight in matters of war.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., put forth a resolution requiring a Senate majority for authorizing military actions in Iran. Sentiments within the Senate reflect a mixture of appreciation for immediate actions and insistence on adherence to constitutional protocols. Kaine previously authored a similar resolution limiting Trump’s military authority concerning Iran, garnering bipartisan backing.
President Trump provided a brief letter on Monday framing the strikes as essential to U.S. national interests and as an act of collective self-defense in support of Israel. The strikes were conducted on Saturday night in Eastern Daylight Time, which coincided with early Sunday morning in Iran.
This update reflects corrections regarding the voting requirement for Sen. Kaine’s military action resolution, which necessitates a simple majority rather than 60 votes.