In a move that has ignited a political firestorm, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday the “complete and total obliteration” of Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities, hailing the strikes as a “spectacular military success.”
However, the President’s action has immediately drawn sharp condemnation from prominent Democrats, with California Rep. Nancy Pelosi leading the charge, decrying the attack as “unconstitutional” and a dangerous escalation.
President Trump, in a televised address, declared, “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of Terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success! Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
He explicitly named Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan as the targeted sites, stating that a “full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” a deeply buried and fortified facility.
Pelosi issued a scathing statement shortly before 8:30 p.m. (PST) Saturday, asserting, “Tonight, the president ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization. I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region.”
READ: BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Launches “Successful” Strikes On 3 Iranian Nuclear Sites
Other top Democrats echoed Pelosi’s sentiment. House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries accused President Trump of “misled[ing] the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force, and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”
Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, went further, stating, “I’ve been briefed on the intelligence — there is no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. That makes this attack illegal.”
Progressive firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the lack of Congressional approval “absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment,” a call supported by Congressman Sean Casten (D-Ill.), who labeled the actions an “unambiguous impeachable offense.” Senator Chuck Schumer, while refraining from calling for impeachment, urged Congress to pass new laws to rein in presidential war powers.
Trump’s address underscored the significant military might unleashed on Iranian targets and detailed historical grievances with Iran, citing decades of animosity and attacks against American and Israeli personnel.
READ: Trump Delivers Ultimatum After Devastating Strikes On 3 Iranian Nuclear Facilities
“For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel,” Trump stated. “We lost over a thousand people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of the hate in particular. So many were killed by their General. The money? I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.”
Trump extended his gratitude to key allies and military leaders, specifically thanking and congratulating Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the Israeli military for their “wonderful job.” Locally, Florida Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) was among the first U.S. lawmakers to publicly praise the operation, commending President Trump’s “decisive leadership” and the “courage and precision” of U.S. armed forces.
President Trump also lauded the American service members involved, stating, “Most importantly, I want to congratulate the Great American Patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation, the likes of which the world is not seen in many, many decades.” He congratulated Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, calling him a “spectacular General,” along with “all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.”
General Caine, along with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, held a press conference at 8 A.M. Sunday.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued a statement Saturday, noting that the state’s Threat Assessment Center “is actively monitoring for any potential impacts in California,” though there were “no specific or credible counter threats” at this time.
Trump concluded his address with a stark ultimatum for Iran. “With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with Precision speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.” He reiterated the unparalleled capability of the U.S. military, stating, “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close.”
The international community is now bracing for further developments. The UN Security Council has been holding emergency briefings on the escalating conflict, with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasizing that “armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place, and could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences.”
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