Senators say US will hit Iran if it rebuilds nuclear, missile programs
President Donald Trump would likely authorize more US attacks if Iran advances its nuclear or missile programs, Republican senators told Jewish Insider.
President Donald Trump would likely authorize more US attacks if Iran advances its nuclear or missile programs, Republican senators told Jewish Insider.
“If they go forward again and start building up nuclear facilities, yeah, I think Trump’s going to bomb the hell out of them,” Republican Senator Rick Scott said.
The United States joined a surprise US military campaign on Iran with a June 22 attack on three key nuclear facilities which Trump said "obliterated" the program.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to attack nuclear sites again should uranium enrichment resume and in recent days warned Tehran that Washington was "locked and loaded" and ready to intervene if Iran killed protestors as unrest grips the country.
“We should be considering what action may be appropriate if Iran progresses with its missile building and nuclear programs, which are obviously a pressing and dire threat to us and Israel,” Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal was quoted as saying.
Trump’s ultimatum on Iranian protests and the shock US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend has ramped up suspense over the president's next steps, but close ally Republican Senator John Kennedy dismissed any direct connection.
“I don’t think one’s related to the other,” Kennedy said. “I also think that if Iran starts back in terms of developing a nuclear weapon or substantially tries to increase the number of missiles that they have, I think the president should hit them, and I believe he will.”
Republican Senator Pete Ricketts also said the US military remains ready, echoing Trump’s warnings about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
“President Trump is demonstrating that we have the most outstanding military in the world. And if he believes that we need to strike Iran again, I believe he’ll do it,” Ricketts said.
Trump launched the attack on Iran after two months of fruitless talks and has offered to return to dialogue. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has rejected the overture, branding as unacceptable US demands that Iran end domestic enrichment and rein in its missile program and support for armed allies in the region.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine asserted that the US president should not launch military strikes against any country, including Iran, without consent from US Congress.
“This president should not willy-nilly use the press, use the military as his palace guard to go here, there and everywhere,” Kaine said. “Not Nigeria, not Iran, not Venezuela, not international waters, not Cuba, not Mexico, not Panama, not Greenland. It should be a debate with Congress.”
The United States held five rounds of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program earlier this year, for which Trump set a 60‑day deadline.
When no agreement was reached by the 61st day on June 13, Israel launched a surprise military offensive, followed by US strikes on June 22 targeting key nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow.
