US lawmakers divided on Iran strikes largely along party lines
US lawmakers have had a mixed reaction to the country's strikes on Iran, with responses largely split down party lines.
President Donald Trump said the US had targeted three nuclear sites in Iran late on Saturday, as Washington directly joined Israel's days-long assault on the Islamic Republic.
The threat of war between the US and Iran has been on the cards for decades and the attack was the fulfillment of a long-standing wish for some, while others dreaded the spectre of the US entering another Middle East war.
Left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders was giving a speech at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he learned of the attack on Iran, which he denounced as "unconstitutional".
As he read out the statement from Trump on the attack, the crowd started booing and chanting "no more war" to which Sanders responded "I agree".
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"All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right," he said.
Other Democrats, particularly on the progressive wing, also condemned the attacks.
Democratic California Congressman Ro Khanna condemned the attack taking place "without any authorisation of Congress" and said on X that Congress needed to urgently support his "War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war".
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Trump to be impeached over the assault.
"The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers," she said on X.
"He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment."
US strikes on Iran: How the world reacted Read More »
Other more centrist Democrats also criticised the attacks, albeit often while also condemning Iran.
Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the House Democratic Caucus, said the authority to launch a war should rest with Congress, but also said Iran was an "enemy" of the US who could "never be permitted to become a nuclear-capable power".
US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, a longtime opponent of Iran, said a vote needed to be called in Congress on the war.
A number of Democrats, primarily staunch Israel supporters, threw their weight behind the attacks.
"As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by [Trump]," wrote Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
"Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I'm grateful for and salute the finest military in the world."
Republicans rejoice
Republicans largely threw their support behind the attacks.
"This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump," wrote South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of attacking Iran. "To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud. Fly, Fight, Win."
Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the House Intelligence Committee, also supported the attack, saying he regretted "that Iran has brought the world to this point".
There were, however, a handful of Republicans who criticised the attack.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right congresswoman associated with Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) faction, has been staunchly opposed to US involvement in a war on Iran.
In a post on X she wrote: "Let us all join together and pray for peace."
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