Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, released the following statement on the U.S. strikes in Iran:
“The ‘President of peace’ just bombed Iran without Congressional authorization, without clear evidence that Iran is imminently close to having a nuclear weapon, without properly notifying both parties in Congress, and with no clear plan for what comes next.
“I support the longstanding U.S. policy that Iran, an adversary and state-sponsor of terror, must never acquire a nuclear weapon. However, I have not received any classified briefing on the intelligence that shows Iran could imminently develop a nuclear weapon, which directly contradicts DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s testimony to Congress in March. Equally concerning, President Trump and his incompetent national security team have not shown to the American people what their day after plan is and how they will manage the possibility of another forever war in the Middle East.
“The U.S. must not be dragged into a wider war in the Middle East, and I pray for the U.S. servicemembers Trump has now placed in harm’s way. The Trump Administration must come before Congress to seek approval for further actions and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle must reassert Congress’s constitutional authority to ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of past conflicts.”
I would like to make a small introduction and then my two colleagues will brief the Council.
Excellencies,
Two days ago, in this very chamber, I made a direct appeal: Give peace a chance.
That call was not heeded.
Instead, the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling.
From the outset of the crisis, I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East.
The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction.
And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.
To avoid it, diplomacy must prevail. Civilians must be protected. Safe maritime navigation must be guaranteed.
We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme.
We need a credible, comprehensive and verifiable solution – one that restores trust – including with full access to inspectors of the IAEA, as the United Nations technical authority in this field.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty is a cornerstone of international peace and security.
Iran must fully respect it.
And all Member States must act in accordance with their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law, including international humanitarian law.
The United Nations stands ready to support any and all efforts toward a peaceful resolution.
But peace cannot be imposed – it must be chosen.
Madam President,
We face a stark choice.
One path leads to wider war, deeper human suffering, and serious damage to the international order.
The other leads to de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.
We know which path is right.
I urge this Council – and all Member States – to act with reason, restraint, and urgency.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has issued the following statement ahead of a planned protest in support of Palestine Action, due to take place in Westminster on Monday, 23 June.
“I’m sure many people will be as shocked and frustrated as I am to see a protest taking place tomorrow in support of Palestine Action.
“This is an organised extremist criminal group, whose proscription as terrorists is being actively considered. Members are alleged to have caused millions of pounds of criminal damage, assaulted a police officer with a sledgehammer and last week claimed responsibility for breaking into an airbase and damaging aircraft. Multiple members of the group are awaiting trial accused of serious offences.
“The right to protest is essential and we will always defend it, but actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as legitimate protest. Thousands of people attend protests of a different character every week without clashing with the law or with the police. The criminal charges faced by Palestine Action members, in contrast, represent a form of extremism that I believe the overwhelming majority of the public rejects.
“We have laid out to Government the operational basis on which to consider proscribing this group. If that happens we will be determined to target those who continue to act in its name and those who show support for it.
“Until then we have no power in law to prevent tomorrow’s protest taking place. We do, however, have the power to impose conditions on it to prevent disorder, damage, and serious disruption to the community, including to Parliament, to elected representatives moving around Westminster and to ordinary Londoners.
“Breaches of the law will be dealt with robustly.”
Details of the conditions in place for this protest will be shared on the Met’s X account once they have been confirmed.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the U.S. launched direct strikes on Iran:
“President Trump’s decision to launch air strikes on Iran without Congressional consultation or approval absent an imminent threat to the United States risks triggering a broader regional war that drags us deeper into an avoidable conflict with no clear strategy.
“Escalating tensions through force without a coordinated diplomatic effort dangerously undermines our national security and the safety of our allies, and puts our over 40,000 servicemembers stationed throughout the Middle East within reach of Iranian missiles and drones at risk. The American people deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to decisions that could cost American lives. I urge the Administration to brief all members in Congress on the intelligence that compelled these strikes, the effectiveness of the strikes, the plans for what comes next, and the actions that the Administration is taking to protect American servicemembers and potential domestic targets from Iranian reprisals.
“While we remain firm in our commitment to preventing a nuclear armed Iran, using force that at best merely delays nuclear weapons development by a few years will not bring long-term success. Only robust and aggressive diplomatic action has ever successfully contained Iran’s nuclear ambitions in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, the President abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement successfully negotiated by the Obama-Biden Administration, without any clear alternatives in mind to avoid the current crisis that we find ourselves in at this moment.
“I urge the Administration to pursue every available diplomatic channel to deescalate this crisis, prevent further bloodshed and achieve a lasting and durable solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
BURLINGTON, Vt. June 22 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement about President Trump’s military strikes against Iran:
In the 1960s the United States government lied to the American people and took us into a terrible war in Vietnam. The result of that war was that over 58,000 young Americans died and many more came back wounded both in mind and in spirit. Millions of Vietnamese were also killed. Hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money was wasted.
In 2002 we were told that we had to go to war against Iraq, that Iraq was building weapons of mass destruction, and that if we did not act quickly and decisively nuclear weapons would fall on America. Among those who told us that was none other than Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who stated in testimony before Congress: “There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking… nuclear weapons… If you take out Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations.” The United States invaded Iraq and became embroiled in a long civil war there. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found. That war was based on a lie – a lie which cost us 4,492 young Americans, 32,000 wounded, over half a million Iraqis and trillions of dollars.
The American people were lied to about Vietnam, with tragic consequences.
The American people were lied to about Iraq, with tragic consequences.
The American people are being lied to again today. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The U.S. faces enormous problems here at home, which we must address. We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged into another Middle East war based on lies.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TEHRAN, June 22 (Xinhua) — Explosions rocked Iran’s southern city of Bushehr, home to a nuclear power plant, and the central province of Yazd on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
As Fars reports, citing a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the explosions in Yazd were the result of Israel’s “aggression” against two military zones in the province.
Speaking about the attacks, Yazd provincial government spokesman Saeed Rastgari said the situation was under the control of local security forces and law enforcement agencies.
Deputy Governor of Yazd Province for Political and Security Affairs Esmail Dehestani, in turn, stated that there was no damage to water and electricity infrastructure as a result of the strikes.
According to the Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency, commenting on the explosions in Bushehr, the deputy governor of the province of the same name for political, security and social affairs, Ehsan Jahanian, explained that they occurred due to Israeli airstrikes on two military facilities.
He also added that the city’s air defense systems immediately responded to the enemy targets and destroyed them. -0-
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Addressing U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:
“I am grateful that no U.S. service members were harmed during the military operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities. I am praying for American troops and citizens in the region, and I will be working with state and local partners to ensure New Yorkers here at home are safe.
Throughout my career, I have been a steadfast champion of Israel, leading U.S. support for Iron Dome and initiatives to strengthen the alliance between our nations. I have long supported efforts to ensure that Iran, the foremost exporter of terrorism in the world, cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
However, I am deeply concerned by President Trump’s decision to unilaterally launch these attacks without seeking congressional authorization, as required by the Constitution. The Trump administration must fully explain to the American people the rationale for this military action and a strategy to avoid being mired in another Middle Eastern war, and it must give Congress a full intelligence briefing immediately.
No further military actions should be allowed without proper congressional approval.
Avoiding further escalation is essential to the peace and security of Israel, the U.S., and our partners in the region. I urge the president and Iran to pursue a diplomatic resolution to this conflict.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can confirm that the Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan have been hit, following U.S. aerial attacks overnight, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
Based on an analysis of the information available to it, the IAEA assessed that there has been extensive additional damage at the sprawling Esfahan site, which had already been struck several times by Israel since it began targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on 13 June, Director General Grossi said.
The IAEA had previously reported that several buildings at the Esfahan complex were damaged, some of which may have contained nuclear material.
“The latest attacks early this morning damaged other buildings in Esfahan. In addition, we have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted,” Director General Grossi said.
The extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility – built deep inside a mountain in central Iran – was not immediately possible to assess in view of its underground location and the penetrating nature of the bombs used.
“It is clear that Fordow was also directly impacted, but the degree of damage inside the uranium enrichment halls can’t be determined with certainty,” Director General Grossi said.
Iran’s other enrichment site, Natanz, which has previously been extensively damaged, was again attacked during the strikes last night with ground-penetrating munitions.
The Director General said the IAEA has been informed by the Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after the latest attacks on the three Iranian nuclear sites.
Director General Grossi stressed the paramount importance of the countries involved urgently embarking on a diplomatic path aimed at ending the hostilities.
This would also enable the IAEA to resume its crucial verification activities in Iran, including of its stockpile of more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, which Agency inspectors last verified a few days before the military conflict began.
“We need to try to go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible. We have to allow the IAEA inspectors to return. The IAEA is ready to play its indispensable role in this process. We have been talking to Iran, we have been talking to the United States. We have to work for peace,” Director General Grossi said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can confirm that the Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan have been hit, following U.S. aerial attacks overnight, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
Based on an analysis of the information available to it, the IAEA assessed that there has been extensive additional damage at the sprawling Esfahan site, which had already been struck several times by Israel since it began targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on 13 June, Director General Grossi said.
The IAEA had previously reported that several buildings at the Esfahan complex were damaged, some of which may have contained nuclear material.
“The latest attacks early this morning damaged other buildings in Esfahan. In addition, we have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted,” Director General Grossi said.
The extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility – built deep inside a mountain in central Iran – was not immediately possible to assess in view of its underground location and the penetrating nature of the bombs used.
“It is clear that Fordow was also directly impacted, but the degree of damage inside the uranium enrichment halls can’t be determined with certainty,” Director General Grossi said.
Iran’s other enrichment site, Natanz, which has previously been extensively damaged, was again attacked during the strikes last night with ground-penetrating munitions.
The Director General said the IAEA has been informed by the Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after the latest attacks on the three Iranian nuclear sites.
Director General Grossi stressed the paramount importance of the countries involved urgently embarking on a diplomatic path aimed at ending the hostilities.
This would also enable the IAEA to resume its crucial verification activities in Iran, including of its stockpile of more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, which Agency inspectors last verified a few days before the military conflict began.
“We need to try to go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible. We have to allow the IAEA inspectors to return. The IAEA is ready to play its indispensable role in this process. We have been talking to Iran, we have been talking to the United States. We have to work for peace,” Director General Grossi said.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can confirm that the Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan have been hit, following U.S. aerial attacks overnight, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
Based on an analysis of the information available to it, the IAEA assessed that there has been extensive additional damage at the sprawling Esfahan site, which had already been struck several times by Israel since it began targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on 13 June, Director General Grossi said.
The IAEA had previously reported that several buildings at the Esfahan complex were damaged, some of which may have contained nuclear material.
“The latest attacks early this morning damaged other buildings in Esfahan. In addition, we have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted,” Director General Grossi said.
The extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility – built deep inside a mountain in central Iran – was not immediately possible to assess in view of its underground location and the penetrating nature of the bombs used.
“It is clear that Fordow was also directly impacted, but the degree of damage inside the uranium enrichment halls can’t be determined with certainty,” Director General Grossi said.
Iran’s other enrichment site, Natanz, which has previously been extensively damaged, was again attacked during the strikes last night with ground-penetrating munitions.
The Director General said the IAEA has been informed by the Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after the latest attacks on the three Iranian nuclear sites.
Director General Grossi stressed the paramount importance of the countries involved urgently embarking on a diplomatic path aimed at ending the hostilities.
This would also enable the IAEA to resume its crucial verification activities in Iran, including of its stockpile of more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, which Agency inspectors last verified a few days before the military conflict began.
“We need to try to go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible. We have to allow the IAEA inspectors to return. The IAEA is ready to play its indispensable role in this process. We have been talking to Iran, we have been talking to the United States. We have to work for peace,” Director General Grossi said.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)
Washington, DC– Today, Congressman Frank J. Mrvan released the following statement regarding the recent U.S. military action in Iran.
“Let me be clear, no one believes Iran should be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.
However, the decision to conduct military action and send our brave servicemembers into harm’s way must only be made after deliberate and careful consideration, in close consultation with Congress and a coalition of our allies.
“I do not believe that the Administration’s decision has met that standard in this instance.
Our priority now must be to re-engage with our allies and Israel to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, and prevent our nation from being drawn into another prolonged military conflict in the region.
“The Administration must also fulfill their Constitutional responsibilities to communicate with Congress on this situation and to do so without delay.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement in response to Donald Trump ordering airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities:
“Keeping a nuclear weapon out of Iran’s hands and securing Israel’s democratic future has always been crucial to America’s national interest. However, Donald Trump’s reckless attack on Iran without congressional authorization has raised the risks that every U.S. servicemember in the Middle East will be a target for retaliation. As senior senator on the Intelligence Committee I’ll be pushing the Trump administration for answers on what plan, if any, it has to prevent an escalation of violence,” Wyden said.
“I heard loud and clear at four town halls in eastern Oregon and the Columbia Gorge this past weekend that Oregonians do not want U.S. troops to be drawn into another foreign war. Just as I opposed George W. Bush’s Iraq War, I reject the idea that sacrificing more American lives in the Middle East will make our country safer.”
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla Statement on Trump Administration’s Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President Trump announced that the United States had completed strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities:
“Dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons program is imperative for America’s national security and essential to Israel’s safety and right to exist. However, it is unacceptable that the president disregarded his constitutional responsibility to seek and secure congressional authorization before launching these strikes.
“Before any further military action is taken, President Trump must come before Congress. That’s not just a matter of process — it’s a matter of law. Trump risks igniting a wider war in the region that puts American lives at risk and that he himself has warned repeatedly against. That’s why we must exhaust every diplomatic channel, working with our allies and partners to contain escalation in the region.
“I’m praying for the safety of our service members and all Americans in the region.”
Headline: Hegseth, Caine laud success of U.S. strike on Iran nuke sites
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded the success of the U.S. Central Command’s overnight strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded the success of the U.S. Central Command’s overnight strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for 29 years, released the following statement on the United States strike against Iran’s nuclear sites:
“The attack on Fordow and other sites nearly destroyed Iran’s ability to enrich uranium in the future. But Iran already has stockpiled enough near-weapons grade uranium for about 9 bombs. Only coercive diplomacy can eliminate that immediate threat. Watch. What does Israel do, or threaten, regarding the Kharg Island oil export facility and Iran’s above-ground strategic and economic infrastructure? Does Iran threaten the Strait of Hormuz, and can the U.S. keep it open? 20% of the world’s oil goes through the Strait.
Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium probably survived and is immediately dangerous. If Iran can salvage or reconstruct even a small portion of its enrichment capacity, it can turn this stockpile into enough weapons-grade uranium for roughly 9 bombs. And even if they have no enrichment capacity, they can probably create crude bombs out of the 60% uranium, though crude bombs probably could not be delivered by missile. Only diplomacy, backed by coercion, can eliminate the threat posed by Iran’s stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium.
So how dangerous is the stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium that Iran had yesterday and probably still retains? It’s enough for about 9 bombs when enriched to over 90%, weapons-grade. The experts I’ve consulted conclude: If Iran retains or reconstitutes 12% of its enrichment capacity, it can create enough weapons-grade uranium for a bomb every 2.5 weeks. Only coercive diplomacy can cause Iran to discourage its stockpile.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
E3 leaders’ declaration on the situation in the Middle East / Declaration des dirigeants des E3 sur la situation au Moyen orient
E3 Leaders’ Statement on the Middle East.
We have discussed the latest developments in the Middle East earlier today.
We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability for all countries in the region. We affirm our support for the security of Israel.
We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security.
Earlier today, the United States has conducted targeted military strikes against nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Our aim continues to be to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program. We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties.
We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilize the region.
We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further.
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded the success of the U.S. Central Command’s overnight strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement following U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“While we wait to learn more about the results of U.S. strikes on Iran and whether or not we have damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure beyond repair, I thank our U.S. servicemembers for carrying out this limited, targeted, and hopefully decisive action,” said Senator Rosen. “The Iranian Regime has made it clear that they will do everything in their power to destroy the United States and Israel, and their nuclear program has been a means to that end. That is why I have never wavered in my firm belief that Iran cannot be allowed to develop or obtain a nuclear weapon.”
“As we await confirmation of the impact of last night’s mission, the President must involve Congress before taking any further U.S. military action against Iran and must respect Congress’s sole constitutional role in the authorization of the use of force,” Senator Rosen continued. “I look forward to being briefed by the Administration this week on the intelligence that led to U.S. strikes and how we plan to protect American servicemembers from retaliation. My thoughts are with our servicemembers who carried out these strikes, and I continue to pray for the safety of U.S. troops and personnel still in the region.”
Senator Rosen has been a steadfast advocate for strengthening our national security, combating terrorism, supporting Israel and other U.S. allies in the Middle East, and countering threats from Iran’s authoritarian regime and limiting its ability to pursue nuclear weapons. Senator Rosen has led bipartisan efforts to freeze Iranian assets, tighten oil sanctions, and ensure the regime is held accountable. Senator Rosen continues to support strong U.S. foreign policy priorities focused on safeguarding global stability.
This morning, key leaders of the Trump Administration were out across the airwaves with a clear message: the world is safer today because of President Donald J. Trump’s highly successful precision strikes against the Iranian regime’s key nuclear facilities — and that what happens next is up to them.
Here’s what you missed:
Vice President JD Vance on Meet the Press
On the precision strikes: “We’re not at war with Iran … We destroyed the Iranian nuclear program … and we did it without endangering the lives of American pilots. That’s an incredible thing.”
On achieving peace: “We do not want war with Iran. We actually want peace, but we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons program — and that’s exactly what the President accomplished last night.”
On diplomacy: “They weren’t taking this seriously. They were trying to draw this process out as long as possible so they could rebuild their nuclear weapons program without the threat of American action … We didn’t blow up the diplomacy. The diplomacy never was given a real chance by the Iranians.”
On potential retaliation: “We’re prepared in the event the that the Iranians do retaliate, but … if the Iranians want to enlarge this by attacking American troops, I think that would be a catastrophic mistake.”
On further conflict: “We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no interest in boots on the ground. The President has actually been one of the fiercest critics of 25 years of failed foreign policy in the Middle East, which is why he did what he did — a very precise, a very surgical strike tailored to an American national interest.”
On regime change: “Our view has been very clear that we don’t want a regime change … We want to end their nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement.”
Vice President JD Vance on This Week
On Iranian nuclear capabilities: “I can say to the American people with great confidence that [Iran is] much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago. That was the objective of the mission.”
On the nature of the precision strikes: “If the Iranians attack us, they’re going to be met with overwhelming force … We did not attack the nation of Iran. We did not attack any civilian targets. We didn’t even attack military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities.”
On a peaceful solution: “We believe the way that you achieve peace is through strength … You can’t sit there and allow the Iranians to achieve a nuclear weapon and expect that’s going to lead to peace … The President — more than anybody — is worried about protracted military conflicts. That is NOT what we’re getting ourselves involved in.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Face the Nation
On what happens next: “What happens next will now depend on what Iran chooses to do next. If they choose the path of diplomacy, we’re ready. We can do a deal that’s good for them, the Iranian people, and good for the world. If they choose another route, then there’ll be consequences.”
On the reality of Iran’s nuclear development: “They had everything they need to build nuclear weapons. Why would you bury things in a mountain 300 feet under the ground? Why do they have 60% enriched uranium? … The only countries in the world that have uranium at 60% are countries that have nuclear weapons because they can quickly make it 90%.”
On a peaceful resolution: “We’ll defend our people … but let’s hope they don’t choose that route. Let’s all hope that they actually decide, ‘let’s go negotiate’ because we want a diplomatic and peaceful solution.”
On diplomacy: “This is very simple. The President wants to resolve this diplomatically and peacefully. He gave them a chance to do that … What happens next is up to the regime.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday Morning Futures
On President Trump’s decision: “[Iran] tried to play him along the way they’ve played every American president for the last 35 years and the President told them if we don’t get a deal — which is what we wanted — then I’ll have to have to handle it differently … We didn’t make that choice, they did.”
On U.S. military might: “The President said very clearly, ‘We have 60 days to make progress on a deal and if we don’t, I’m going to deal with it differently’ … [Our military] went in, they did what they needed to do with precision and skill that no other military in the world can do, and they left.”
On President Trump’s leadership: “They thought they could do with President Trump what they’ve done with presidents in the past and get it away with it — and they found out last night that they can’t … This is a President that tells you what he’s going to do and then he does it.”
On the evil of the Iranian regime: “Why did Hezbollah exist? Because of Iran. Why does Hamas exist? Because of Iran. How do the Houthis exist? Because of Iran. Who built the IEDs that maimed and killed American soldiers in Iraq? Iran. They’re behind every problem in this region. They are the sole source of instability in the entire Middle East … Imagine those people having a nuclear weapon … That is unacceptable.”
On the Strait of Hormuz: “If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that.”
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
People observe fire and smoke from an Israeli airstrike on an oil depot in Tehran, Iran, on June 15, 2025. Stringer/Getty Images
The two countries have been particularly hostile to each other since Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979, resulting in economic sanctions and the severing of formal diplomatic relations between the nations.
Some of the major events in U.S.-Iran relations highlight the differences between the nations’ views, but others arguably presented real opportunities for reconciliation.
In 1951, the Iranian Parliament chose a new prime minister, Mossadegh, who then led lawmakers to vote in favor of taking over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, expelling the company’s British owners and saying they wanted to turn oil profits into investments in the Iranian people. The U.S. feared disruption in the global oil supply and worried about Iran falling prey to Soviet influence. The British feared the loss of cheap Iranian oil.
President Dwight Eisenhower decided it was best for the U.S. and the U.K. to get rid of Mossadegh. Operation Ajax, a joint CIA-British operation, convinced the Shah of Iran, the country’s monarch, to dismiss Mossadegh and drive him from office by force. Mossadegh was replaced by a much more Western-friendly prime minister, handpicked by the CIA.
Demonstrators in Tehran demand the establishment of an Islamic republic. AP Photo/Saris
1979: Revolutionaries oust the shah, take hostages
After more than 25 years of relative stability in U.S.-Iran relations, the Iranian public had grown unhappy with the social and economic conditions that developed under the dictatorial rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Iranian students at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran show a blindfolded American hostage to the crowd in November 1979. AP Photo
In October 1979, President Jimmy Carter agreed to allow the shah to come to the U.S. to seek advanced medical treatment. Outraged Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, taking 52 Americans hostage. That convinced Carter to sever U.S. diplomatic relations with Iran on April 7, 1980.
Two weeks later, the U.S. military launched a mission to rescue the hostages, but it failed, with aircraft crashes killing eight U.S. servicemembers.
The shah died in Egypt in July 1980, but the hostages weren’t released until Jan. 20, 1981, after 444 days of captivity.
An Iranian cleric, left, and an Iranian soldier wear gas masks to protect themselves against Iraqi chemical-weapons attacks in May 1988. Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images
The U.S. was concerned that the conflict would limit the flow of Middle Eastern oil and wanted to ensure the conflict didn’t affect its close ally, Saudi Arabia.
U.S. officials moderated their usual opposition to those illegal and inhumane weapons because the U.S. State Department did not “wish to play into Iran’s hands by fueling its propaganda against Iraq.” In 1988, the war ended in a stalemate. More than 500,000 military and 100,000 civilians died.
1981-1986: US secretly sells weapons to Iran
The U.S. imposed an arms embargo after Iran was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1984. That left the Iranian military, in the middle of its war with Iraq, desperate for weapons and aircraft and vehicle parts to keep fighting.
The last shipment, of anti-tank missiles, was in October 1986. In November 1986, a Lebanese magazine exposed the deal. That revelation sparked the Iran-Contra scandal in the U.S., with Reagan’s officials found to have collected money from Iran for the weapons and illegally sent those funds to anti-socialist rebels – the Contras – in Nicaragua.
At a mass funeral for 76 of the 290 people killed in the shootdown of Iran Air 655, mourners hold up a sign depicting the incident. AP Photo/CP/Mohammad Sayyad
Either during or just after that exchange of gunfire, the Vincennes crew mistook a passing civilian Airbus passenger jet for an Iranian F-14 fighter. They shot it down, killing all 290 people aboard.
The U.S. called it a “tragic and regrettable accident,” but Iran believed the plane’s downing was intentional. In 1996, the U.S. agreed to pay US$131.8 million in compensation to Iran.
1997-1998: The US seeks contact
In August 1997, a moderate reformer, Mohammad Khatami, won Iran’s presidential election.
U.S. President Bill Clinton sensed an opportunity. He sent a message to Tehran through the Swiss ambassador there, proposing direct government-to-government talks.
Shortly thereafter, in early January 1998, Khatami gave an interview to CNN in which he expressed “respect for the great American people,” denounced terrorism and recommended an “exchange of professors, writers, scholars, artists, journalists and tourists” between the United States and Iran.
However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn’t agree, so not much came of the mutual overtures as Clinton’s time in office came to an end.
In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush characterized Iran, Iraq and North Korea as constituting an “Axis of Evil” supporting terrorism and pursuing weapons of mass destruction, straining relations even further.
Inside these buildings at the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, technicians enrich uranium. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
That was a violation of the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which Iran had signed, requiring countries to disclose their nuclear-related facilities to international inspectors.
One of those formerly secret locations, Natanz, housed centrifuges for enriching uranium, which could be used in civilian nuclear reactors or enriched further for weapons.
Starting in roughly 2005, U.S. and Israeli government cyberattackers together reportedly targeted the Natanz centrifuges with a custom-made piece of malicious software that became known as Stuxnet.
An excerpt of the document sent from Iran, via the Swiss government, to the U.S. State Department in 2003, appears to seek talks between the U.S. and Iran. Washington Post via Scribd
In May 2003, senior Iranian officials quietly contacted the State Department through the Swiss embassy in Iran, seeking “a dialogue ‘in mutual respect,’” addressing four big issues: nuclear weapons, terrorism, Palestinian resistance and stability in Iraq.
Hardliners in the Bush administration weren’t interested in any major reconciliation, though Secretary of State Colin Powell favored dialogue and other officials had met with Iran about al-Qaida.
When Iranian hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran in 2005, the opportunity died. The following year, Ahmadinejad made his own overture to Washington in an 18-page letter to President Bush. The letter was widely dismissed; a senior State Department official told me in profane terms that it amounted to nothing.
After a decade of unsuccessful attempts to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Obama administration undertook a direct diplomatic approach beginning in 2013.
Iran, the U.S., China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom signed the deal in 2015. It severely limited Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium and mandated that international inspectors monitor and enforce Iran’s compliance with the agreement.
In return, Iran was granted relief from international and U.S. economic sanctions. Though the inspectors regularly certified that Iran was abiding by the agreement’s terms, President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.
2020: US drones kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani
At the time, the Trump administration asserted that Soleimani was directing an imminent attack against U.S. assets in the region, but officials have not provided clear evidence to support that claim.
Hamas’ brazen attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, provoked a fearsome militarized response from Israel that continues today and served to severely weaken Iran’s proxies in the region, especially Hamas – the perpetrator of the attacks – and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
2025: Trump 2.0 and Iran
Trump saw an opportunity to forge a new nuclear deal with Iran and to pursue other business deals with Tehran. Once inaugurated for his second term, Trump appointed Steve Witkoff, a real estate investor who is the president’s friend, to serve as special envoy for the Middle East and to lead negotiations.
Negotiations for a nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran began in April, but the countries did not reach a deal. They were planning a new round of talks when Israel struck Iran with a series of airstrikes on June 13, forcing the White House to reconsider is position.
On June 22, in the early morning hours, the U.S. chose to act decisively in an attempt to cripple Iran’s nuclear capacity, bombing three nuclear sites and causing what Pentagon officials called “severe damage.” Iran vowed to retaliate.
This story has been updated to reflect the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, 2025.
Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Schmidt Futures.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ISTANBUL, June 22 (Xinhua) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday strongly condemned the U.S. military aggression against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities, saying Tehran is considering multiple options to respond to the “crossing of a red line.”
“The US attack on Iran is a flagrant, serious and unprecedented violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” A. Araghchi emphasized at a press conference in Istanbul.
The diplomat noted that the American administration, which “tramples on the law,” bears “sole and full” responsibility for the consequences of its act of “aggression.”
“Of course, the door to diplomacy should always be open. But this is not the case now. My country is under attack, aggression, and we must respond based on our legitimate right to self-defense. We will do this as long as necessary and necessary,” A. Araghchi said.
“We are now counting the damage,” he added, calling on the world and international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to act in accordance with their responsibilities in the face of this “violation of international law.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister also said that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 23 to discuss the developments in the aftermath of the American strikes.
Currently, A. Araghchi is in Turkey, where he arrived to participate in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. –0–
This story was written by Elssa Gbeily, a former strategic communications consultant for the UN Department of Peace Operations focused on gender, peace and security.
Every June, Pride Month highlights the rights and identities of LGBTIQ+* people. For the UN and its peacekeepers, Pride is more than a celebration—it is a call to uphold our shared responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of all people, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Many peacekeeping missions operate in environments where LGBTIQ+ people face stigma, discrimination, or legal barriers. Despite these challenges, missions are finding context-sensitive ways to support rights-based inclusion without jeopardizing their impartiality or host country relations.
For the UN peacekeeping missions in Kosovo** and Cyprus, advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ people has become not only a human rights imperative, but a concrete strategy for building trust, strengthening social cohesion, and preventing conflict.
On the island of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live on either side of a UN-administered buffer zone. Although Cyprus became independent in 1960 with a constitution intended to balance the interests of both communities, a series of constitutional crises led to the outbreak of violence in 1963. A UN peacekeeping mission, UNFICYP, was subsequently established and today helps maintain peace along the buffer zone.
Fostering trust and reconciliation between the two communities is a key part of UNFICYP’s work to promote peace. The mission works with civil society, diplomats, international organizations and local communities to host events that bring people together and has found an ally in the LGBTIQ+ community as a powerful agent for reconciliation.
Working with LGBTIQ+ communities from both sides of the island, the mission has supported Pride events across the island, including a Queer film festival and a joint conference on LGBTIQ+ rights in health and education that was organized by local organizations and the British High Commission, and hosted inside the UN buffer zone.
“For me, it really highlights how despite obstacles we are able to gather, we were able to organize collective events, and we are able to show a way forward,” explains Theo Ieronymides, a local Cypriot and co-founder of the Queer Collective, an initiative that connects LGBTIQ+ persons across the divide.
By supporting initiatives that build bridges between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriot communities, UNFICYP and its LGBTIQ+ partners are fostering mutual recognition and breaking down identity-based divisions that fuel tensions.
“LGBTIQ+ people, and those working with them to secure their rights, have proved time and again the value of communities in providing support and driving change,” emphasized UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May.
Supporting human rights in Kosovo for inclusive governance and durable conflict resolution
Following the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, which left deep divisions between ethnic communities, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) promotes human rights and fosters reconciliation. Advancing LGBTIQ+ rights is integral to this work, as inclusion and equality are key to building trust and achieving lasting peace.
Together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNMIK has supported efforts to combat discrimination—such as supporting Kosovo’s first-ever Pride parade in 2017.
UNMIK also serves on Kosovo’s Advisory and Coordination Group on LGBTI Rights, alongside government, civil society and international actors. It provides technical input, particularly on anti-discrimination policy, and helped draft the upcoming “Action Plan for the Rights of LGBTI Persons in Kosovo 2024–2026”—the first of its kind in Kosovo. The plan covers health, education and culture, anti-discrimination, and awareness-raising, and seeks to enhance cooperation between government institutions and civil society.
UNMIK supports the Civil Society Human Rights Network—a coalition of seven local organizations defending marginalized groups, including LGBTIQ+ persons. The network documents rights violations, promotes legal reform, and raises awareness. Its 2024 report highlights issues such as hate crimes and lack of healthcare and shelter, urging legislative action to protect gender identity and legalize same-sex unions.
By working with the LGBTIQ+ community and other partners to combat inequality and discrimination, UNMIK plays a vital role in promoting human rights, reconciliation and security in Kosovo. These actions not only benefit the LGBTIQ+ community, they help build a more inclusive, cohesive society where peace is more likely to be sustained for future generations.
The experiences of Cyprus and Kosovo offer valuable lessons for other missions seeking to promote inclusion in deeply divided contexts, demonstrating that even in fragile environments, small, locally driven initiatives can lay the groundwork for broader societal transformation.
LGBTIQ+ inclusion as a foundation for lasting peace
In June 2024, the UN launched its inaugural strategy to mainstream LGBTIQ+ inclusion across all areas of its work, including peacekeeping. Building on the UN Free & Equal campaign, launched in 2013 by the UN Human Rights Office, the strategy strengthens the UN’s commitment to recognizing the rights, needs and contributions of LGBTIQ+ persons. Together, these initiatives seek to enhance the inclusiveness and effectiveness of peace, humanitarian and development efforts.
Implementing this vision in peacekeeping contexts can present challenges. “Many UN missions are deployed to countries where issues related to LGBTIQ+ people are taboo and LGBTIQ+ persons and organizations can face legal restrictions, which can make these issues difficult to raise,” says Albert Trithart, a research fellow at the International Peace Institute and author of one of the first reports on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in UN peacekeeping.
However, he sees the adoption of the LBGTIQ+ strategy as an opportunity. “The strategy requires UN missions—and the whole UN Secretariat—to integrate the protection and promotion of the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in programming and to ‘ensure safe and meaningful engagement of LGBTIQ+ persons in programmes and policies that impact them.’” He sees many areas where peacekeeping can help advance LGBTIQ+ rights, and peace more broadly, as part of their current work. “One area is reporting. Violence against LGBTIQ+ people is often invisible, especially in contexts of armed conflict. Missions that are already reporting on conflict-related sexual violence could help draw attention to violence specifically targeting people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” By better understanding the dynamics of violence, peacekeeping missions can better address them and more effectively promote security.
Together, UN Peacekeeping, UN Member States and our other partners can expand on the work being done with LGBTIQ+ communities to protect their rights and advance more inclusive, sustainable peace. “Working as one, we must push to repeal discriminatory laws, combat violence and harmful practices, and end the scapegoating of marginalized communities,” said Secretary-General Guterres in May. “We will not rest until the rights of all are a reality, no matter who they are or whom they love.”
*LGBTIQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons
**References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Toledo, Ohio — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released the following statement. Congresswoman has demanded immediate highly secure confidential Congressional briefings of key Defense and Intelligence Committees to address the following questions related to American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Congresswoman Kaptur is one of 44 bipartisan members of the House who are leading H.Con.Res.38 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“There was no congressional vote, no debate, nor even any discussion with Congress, with leaders of key intelligence committees reportedly left in the dark,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “This is not the way our Republic is supposed to function because that is not how our Constitution reads. I will continue to demand answers in a secure confidential Congressional briefing in the coming days. May God bless America and our people.”
(1) If not an act of war against Iran, which Constitutionally would require Congressional consent before bombs were dropped, how does President Trump define his actions against Iran?
(2) Who — which individuals — exactly at the National Security Council, Pentagon, and Departments of Defense and State were involved in this decision?
(3) With what other nations, and which international leaders did President Trump consult before making what appears to be a lone decision?
(4) Going forward, the secretive manner in which the White House has made such a consequential, strategic, “Lone Ranger” decision puts at very serious risk American troops, US global assets, and strategic interests both abroad and at home.
(5) This decision appears to have been solely President Trump’s. The consequences that will likely flow from it, however, will attend to the American people at home and abroad and rest squarely on his shoulders alone.
(6) Political retribution can take many forms where religious beliefs do not accommodate compromise nor forgiveness as an accepted behavior.
Following the Government meeting called urgently this morning in light of the worsening of the crisis in the Middle East, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, has had several conversations over the course of the day with a number of international partners and key regional players.
In particular, President Meloni has had an exchange of views with the current President of the G7, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with French President Emmanuel Macron and with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. At regional level, President Meloni has spoken with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
In all conversations, there was shared agreement and the utmost importance placed on the need to work towards a swift resumption of negotiations between the parties, in order to avoid further expansion of the conflict and to reach a political solution to the crisis.
In the early hours of June 22, 2025, local time, the United States attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran with “bunker buster” bombs and Tomahawk missiles.
The Conversation U.S. turned to Javed Ali, an expert on Middle East affairs at the University of Michigan and a former senior official at the National Security Council during the first Trump administration, to talk through why Trump chose now to act and what the potential repercussions could be.
What do we know about the nature and timing of US involvement?
President Trump has been forcefully hinting for days days that such a strike could happen, while at the same time opening up a window of negotiation by suggesting as late as June 20 that he would make a decision “within the next two weeks.” We know Trump can be very unpredictable, but he must have assessed that the current conditions presented an opportunity for U.S. action.
Trump met with the National Security Council twice in the days leading up to the strike. Typically at such meetings the president is presented with a menu of military options, which usually boil down to three: a narrow option, a middle ground and a “if you really want to go big” strike.
The one he picked, I would argue, is somewhere between the narrow option and the middle ground one.
The “go big” options would have been an attack on nuclear sites and Iranian leadership – be that senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, or possibly the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The more narrow approach would have been just one facility, likely to have been Fordo – a deeply fortified uranium enrichment site buried within a mountain.
What did occur was a strike there, but also at two other sites – Isfahan and Natanz.
U.S. military chiefs confirmed that that 12 GBU-57s – the so-called 30,000-pound bunker busters – were dropped by B-2 bombers on Fordo, and two on Isfahan.
That suggests to me that the military goal of the operation was to destroy Iran’s ability to produce and or store highly enriched uranium in a one-time strike rather than drag the U.S. into a more prolonged conflict.
Has the strike achieved Trump’s objectives?
It will take some time to properly assess the extent to which Iran’s ability to produce or store highly enriched uranium has been damaged.
Certainly we know that the bombs hit their targets, and they have been damaged – but to what extent is not immediately clear. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that all three target sites had suffered “extremely severe damage and destruction” – possibly rolling back from Trump’s “fully obliterated” assessment. Perhaps most tellingly, Iran has not commented yet on the extent of the damage.
But to Trump, the objective was not just military but political, too. Trump has long said “no” to a nuclear Iran while at the same time has expressed that he has no desire to drag the U.S. into another war.
And this strike may allow Trump to achieve those seemingly contradictory goals. If U.S. initial assessments are correct, Iran’s nuclear program will have been severely compromised. But the strikes won’t necessarily pull U.S. into the conflict fully – unless Iran retaliates in such a way that necessitates further U.S. action.
And that is what Iran’s supreme leader and his military generals will need to work out: Should Iran retaliate and, if so, is it prepared to deal with a heavier U.S. military response – especially when there is no end in sight to its current conflict with Israel.
An operational timeline of a strike on Iran is displayed during a news conference with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 22, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
What options does Iran have to retaliate against US?
Iran has in the past tried to respond proportionately to any attack. But here is the problem for Iran’s leaders: There is no feasible proportionate response to the United States. Iran has no capability to hit nuclear plants in the U.S. – either conventionally or through unconventional warfare.
But there are tens of thousands of U.S. troops in the region, stationed in Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Jordan. All are in range of Iran’s ballistic, drones or cruise missiles.
But that military inventory has been depleted – both by using ballistic missiles in waves of attacks against Israel and by Israel hitting missile launch and storage sites in Iran.
Similarly, Tehran’s capacity to respond through one of its proxy or aligned groups in the region has been degraded. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Gaza’s Hamas – both of whom have ties to Iran – are in survival mode following damaging attacks from Israel over the past 18 months.
The Houthis in Yemen are in many ways the “last man standing” in Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance.” But the Houthis have limited capability and know that if they do attack U.S. assets, they will likely get hit hard. During Operation Rough Rider from March to May this year, the Trump administration launched over 1,000 strikes against the Houthis.
Meanwhile Shia militias in Iraq and Syria that could be encouraged to attack U.S. bases haven’t been active in months.
Of course, Iran could look outside the region. In the past the country has been involved in assassinations, kidnappings and terror attacks abroad that were organized through its Quds Force or via operatives of MOIS, its intelligence service.
But for Iran’s leaders, it is increasingly looking like a lose-lose proposition. If they don’t respond in a meaningful way, they look weak and more vulnerable. But if they do hit U.S. targets in any meaningful way, they will invite a stronger U.S. involvement in the conflict, as Trump has warned.
On that occasion, Iran promised a strong retaliation. Its retaliatory attack against the U.S. Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq involved 27 ballistic missiles and caused the physical destruction of some of the facilities on base as well as traumatic brain injury-type symptoms to dozens of troops and personnel, but no deaths. Nevertheless, after this both the U.S. and Iran then backed off from deepening the conflict.
The circumstances now are very different. Iran is already at war with Israel. Moreover, the U.S. went after Iran’s crown jewels – its nuclear program – and it was on Iranian territory. Nonetheless, Khameini knows that if he retaliates, he risks provoking a larger response.
Trump suggested ‘further attacks’ could occur. What could that entail?
The U.S. has suggested that it has the intelligence and ability to hit senior leadership in Iran. And any “go big option” would have likely involved strikes on key personnel. Similarly there could be plans to hit the Iranian economy by attacking oil and gas targets.
A satellite image of the Fordo nuclear facility in Iran prior to the U.S. strike on June 22, 2025. Maxar/Getty
But such actions risk either damaging the global economy or drawing the U.S. deeper into the conflict – it would evolve from a “one and done” strike to a cycle of attacks and responses. And that could widen political cracks between hawks in the administration and parts of Trump’s MAGA faithful who are against the U.S. being involved in overseas wars.
Is there any opportunity of a return to diplomacy?
Trump has not closed his “two weeks” window for talks – theoretically it is still open.
But will Iran come to table? Leaders there had already said they were not willing to entertain any deal while under attack from Israel. Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said after the U.S. strikes that the time for diplomacy had now passed.
In any event, you have to ask, what can Iran come to the table with? Do they have much of a nuclear program anymore? And if not, what would they try to negotiate? It would seem, using one of Trump’s phrases, they “don’t have the cards” to make much of a deal.
Javed Ali does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Warnock Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Bomb Iran Without Congressional Approval
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to enter another Middle East conflict and bomb Iran without seeking congressional approval:
“The ordering of our service members into battle is the gravest of responsibilities for an American president and should never be undertaken lightly. President Trump, who has said he ‘might or might not’ bomb Iran and has indicated this week that he disagrees with the assessment of his own national intelligence advisers, has now entered another Middle East conflict. He has not sought congressional approval and has not sufficiently explained why this operation was necessary right now. With thousands of American troops at risk for potential retaliation, this is not “the art of the deal.” This is war. And this is not the first time the American people have been told that it will end quickly. The people deserve to hear more than they’ve heard so far and the constitution requires a much more serious engagement with their representatives,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Warnock Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Bomb Iran Without Congressional Approval
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to enter another Middle East conflict and bomb Iran without seeking congressional approval:
“The ordering of our service members into battle is the gravest of responsibilities for an American president and should never be undertaken lightly. President Trump, who has said he ‘might or might not’ bomb Iran and has indicated this week that he disagrees with the assessment of his own national intelligence advisers, has now entered another Middle East conflict. He has not sought congressional approval and has not sufficiently explained why this operation was necessary right now. With thousands of American troops at risk for potential retaliation, this is not “the art of the deal.” This is war. And this is not the first time the American people have been told that it will end quickly. The people deserve to hear more than they’ve heard so far and the constitution requires a much more serious engagement with their representatives,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)
Congressman Baird Statement on U.S. Airstrikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
Washington, June 22, 2025
Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement on the U.S. airstrikes which destroyed three of Iran’s nuclear sites:
“The president has been consistent and clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. President Trump gave Iran every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran failed to come to an agreement and has terrorized Israel and Americans for decades. Thanks to President Trump’s decisive action, three of Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites have been decimated. May God bless our brave, heroic troops for successfully completing this mission, and I thank them for their outstanding service to our country. God bless America.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-5) released the following statement regarding Saturday’s U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
“President Trump’s decisive action protects America’s security and is a key step toward halting Iran’s march toward becoming a nuclear power. I’m grateful to our troops for their bravery in successfully executing this mission.
Military action should never be taken lightly, but the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism obtaining a nuclear weapon would fundamentally threaten our national security. These targeted strikes were the right call, and I pray for the continued protection of our men and women in uniform.”
