Top Democrats Push Trump to Explain Iran Strike Rationale

By Staff, Agencies

Senior Senate Democrats urged President Donald Trump to publicly explain any potential US military action against Iran following a closed-door briefing on the administration’s war plans.

“Closed-door briefings are fine, but the administration has to make its case to the American people on something as important as this,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [D-N.Y.] said following the briefing on Tuesday.

Sen. Mark Warner [D-Va.] said it was “incumbent” on Trump to explain to the American people what the administration hoped to achieve with any new strikes on Iran and “how to protect American interests,” adding, “Maybe we’ll hear that tonight, but if we don’t hear it tonight, we need to hear it very, very soon.”

The comments came amid significant American military buildup in the West Asia region, including around Iran, featuring two aircraft carriers as well as numerous warplanes and missile systems.

The warlike concentration comes, although, Iranian and American negotiators have begun a fresh series of indirect nuclear negotiations, the third round of which is expected to undergo in Geneva in a matter of days.

Also on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a favorable deal depended on diplomacy being “given priority,” warning the US not to undermine talks with aggression.

Iranian authorities have cautioned Washington and its allies against seeking to take advantage of the country’s engagement in diplomatic process to subject it to new uncalled-for and illegal acts of aggression.

Araghchi echoed the remarks, saying, “We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage. We bring the same courage to the negotiating table, where we will pursue a peaceful resolution to any differences.”

Trump has coupled the American military buildup with repeated verbal threats, prompting Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to warn him about the risks of military action against Iran.

Earlier, The Washington Post reported earlier that Caine had raised concerns at the White House and Pentagon about munition shortages and a lack of allied support that could leave US personnel vulnerable.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Pentagon officials were wary of potential US and allied casualties, as well as the depletion of American air defenses in the event of strikes on Iranian territory.

Additionally, American outlet Axios reported that Caine had warned of the United States “becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict.”