In the aftermath of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the Trump administration is clarifying that its precision strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were not an act of war against Iran but a targeted effort to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. The Saturday operation, which saw 75 precision-guided weapons hit Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, was carried out without congressional approval, sparking widespread debate. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on “Face The Nation,” stressed, “It was not an attack on Iran, it was not an attack on the Iranian people, this wasn’t a regime change move.” He added, “This was designed to degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.”
Vice President Vance, on “Meet The Press,” echoed this distinction, stating, “America was not at war with Iran, but ‘at war with Iran’s nuclear program.'” He asserted the President’s “clear authority” to prevent weapons of mass destruction proliferation and sought to reassure a public “exhausted” by Middle East conflicts that this engagement would be decisive.
However, the administration’s rationale has not convinced all lawmakers. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a co-author of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, argued on “Face The Nation” that there was “no imminent threat to the United States” to justify bypassing Congress’s constitutional role. He criticized Congress for being on vacation instead of debating such a critical resolution.
Despite Massie’s isolated dissent within his party, House Speaker Mike Johnson supported Trump’s decision on X, claiming an “imminent danger” necessitated immediate action and that congressional leaders were aware of the urgency. He also affirmed Trump’s respect for Congress’s Article I powers. Conversely, top Democrats, blindsided by the strike, deemed it illegal. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) warned on CBS that the action heightened risks for American troops and constituted “hostilities” requiring congressional authorization. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) echoed this, emphasizing the lack of an “imminent threat” to justify the increased danger.