On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas
- Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut
- Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio
- Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas
- Karim Sadjadpour from the Carnegie Endownment for worldwide peace and former CENTCOM commander and CBS Information contributor Ret. Gen. Frank McKenzie
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2026 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
As we come on the air, the battle within the Center East seems to be widening, with the U.S. and Israel of their second day of assaults in opposition to Iran. And Iran has escalated their retaliatory strikes aimed toward U.S. pursuits in neighboring international locations, in addition to targets inside Israel.
The bombing kicked off early Saturday morning. The one public look from President Trump at this level was a video launched quickly after the strikes started. It included this chilling warning.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the US): The lives of brave American heroes could also be misplaced, and we could have casualties. That usually occurs in warfare. However we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the long run. And it’s a noble mission.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that prophecy has now come true, as U.S. Central Command simply launched an announcement asserting the primary identified American casualties of Operation Epic Fury. Three service members are lifeless and 5 are critically wounded.
We’ll cowl all angles of this ongoing battle that has huge worldwide implications for the U.S.
We’ll begin with our Charlie D’Agata in Tel Aviv.
(Start VT)
(CHANTING)
CHARLIE D’AGATA (voice-over): Iran started 40 days of mourning for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after state-run media confirmed that he was killed at his Tehran compound.
His successor has been introduced as Alireza Arafi to steer a brief council. However who’s actually in cost and the place they will even meet safely is one other matter. Israel Protection Forces launched this video at present claiming to indicate a number of airstrikes blowing up Iranian authorities headquarters this morning. CBS Information can not independently confirm that declare.
Intelligence sources inform CBS Information as many as 40 senior Iranian officers have been killed within the first wave of strikes.
(CHANTING)
CHARLIE D’AGATA: Iran’s Islamic Republican Guard Corps vowed revenge, saying they’ve launched probably the most ferocious offensive operation within the historical past of the Iranian armed forces in direction of the occupied territories and American terrorist bases.
On day two of the warfare, close by Gulf state allies have already borne the brunt of a number of drone and missile strikes, although none as onerous as Israel itself. An Iranian missile strike in a single day within the coronary heart of Tel Aviv left a girl in her 40s lifeless and greater than 40 injured, together with seven kids.
All through the evening, air raid sirens and textual content messages despatched residents right here scrambling for his or her bomb shelters. This missile managed to hit by some of the superior missile protection methods on this planet. And that is what’s inflicting concern amongst U.S. forces right here.
U.S. navy officers inform CBS Information that forces from U.S. Central Command proceed to launch airstrikes and cruise missiles in opposition to Iran concentrating on Iranian air defenses, launchers and missile stockpiles and Iranian regime infrastructure in coordination with Israeli Protection Forces.
(Finish VT)
CHARLIE D’AGATA: As we speak, the U.S. Embassy right here in Israel modified its advisory to Americans right here, saying the embassy shouldn’t be able to evacuate or immediately help People in departing Israel, directing that each one U.S. authorities workers and their members of the family shelter in place in or close to their residences till additional discover.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is our Charlie D’Agata in Tel Aviv.
We flip now to senior international correspondent Imtiaz Tyab, who’s reporting from Muscat, Oman.
(Start VT)
(EXPLOSION)
MAN #1: Oh, my God.
(EXPLOSION)
IMTIAZ TYAB (voice-over): Tehran’s resolution to convey its combat to the doorsteps of Gulf nations will possible solely harden Arab rulers’ backing for the continuing U.S. and Israeli strikes.
(EXPLOSION)
MAN #2: Wow.
IMTIAZ TYAB: For 2 days now, waves of Iranian assaults have rattled the UAE’s swankiest Dubai resorts, has seen smoke billow throughout the skyline of Qatar’s glittering capital, Doha…
(SHOUTING)
MAN #3: Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
IMTIAZ TYAB: … whereas targets have been struck in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and now Oman’s Manama port.
Past the injury, dozens have been injured and a few killed throughout the area…
(EXPLOSION)
IMTIAZ TYAB: … after Iran fired a whole lot of its drones and missiles. Whereas most have been intercepted and no Gulf nation has fired again, the query now could be, for the way lengthy?
The oil-and-gas-rich area can also be dwelling to a number of main U.S. navy bases housing tens of hundreds of American service members. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated his nation’s armed forces will – quote – “crush U.S. bases with drive.”
(SHOUTING)
IMTIAZ TYAB: Fears of an prolonged battle past Iran’s borders are solely rising following the killing of the supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
(SHOUTING)
IMTIAZ TYAB: Professional-regime demonstrators in neighboring Pakistan tried to storm the U.S. consulate within the port metropolis of Karachi. Not less than 9 individuals have been killed in confrontations with safety forces.
(GUNFIRE)
IMTIAZ TYAB: Protests have additionally erupted in Iraq. Lots of have been pushed again with water cannons outdoors the Inexperienced Zone in Baghdad, only a quick distance from the American Embassy.
(Finish VT)
IMTIAZ TYAB: And from right here within the Omani capital, Muscat, not removed from the banks of the Strait of Hormuz, CBS Information can verify that two tankers have been focused in strikes.
With one-fifth of the world’s oil passing by right here, any sustained disruption could be felt not simply within the Gulf, Margaret, however in markets throughout the U.S. and around the globe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Imtiaz Tyab reporting from Muscat, Oman.
We flip now to the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton, who joins us from Bentonville.
Good morning to you, Senator.
SENATOR TOM COTTON (R-Arkansas): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president of the US warned the American public that there may very well be casualties, American casualties. Does that imply the U.S. is placing boots on the bottom?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: No, Margaret, the president has been clear that what we must always anticipate to see is an prolonged air and naval marketing campaign that is designed not solely to proceed to set again Iran’s nuclear ambitions, however, most significantly, to destroy its huge missile arsenal, many extra missiles than the US and Israel have air defenses mixed, in addition to the missile launchers and its missile manufacturing functionality.
Now, clearly one danger of that type of marketing campaign is that an plane may very well be shot down, and the president would by no means go away a pilot behind. So little question we have now fight search-and-rescue property within the area which might be ready to go in and extract any downed pilot.
However, barring that type of uncommon circumstance, Margaret, the president has no plan for any type of large-scale floor drive within Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: “The New York Occasions” is reporting that it was the CIA that supplied the intelligence in regard to the precise location of the supreme chief, after which he was subsequently killed.
You are smiling as I say that. Are you confirming that it’s true that it’s the United States that pinpointed his location, resulting in his loss of life?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: No, Margaret, I can not verify something in regards to the intelligence that the US intelligence neighborhood collects.
I can let you know that, after all, we have now beautiful intelligence assortment strategies, that the situation and the intentions of the supreme chief and the opposite ayatollahs in Iran, or, for that matter, the leaders of different adversaries around the globe, is clearly one of many highest priorities of our intelligence neighborhood.
However, clearly, this operation is pushed by intelligence, collected by Israel and the US that has as soon as once more confirmed that our nations have capabilities that no different nation on Earth has.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Certainly.
There are questions, although, about what occurs subsequent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified to Congress final month and was requested particularly, what occurs if Iran’s regime fails? Take a pay attention.
(Start VT)
MARCO RUBIO (U.S. Secretary of State): So, I do not suppose anybody may give you a easy reply as to what occurs subsequent in Iran if the supreme chief and the regime have been to fall, apart from the hope that there could be some capability to have any individual inside their methods that you might work in direction of an identical transition.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was a month in the past. We’re seeing some succession planning occurring inside Iran. Is that this a managed regime change right here, or is the US betting on regime collapse?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: Properly, Margaret, first, I wish to stress what occurs subsequent within the days forward and possibly the weeks forward.
Iran does have an enormous missile arsenal, and that is going to be the precedence goal for this navy marketing campaign. It’s destroying that arsenal that threatened American troops from bases as far-flung because the Indian Ocean to Western Europe, and ensuring Iran cannot rebuild it…
MARGARET BRENNAN: A lot of these are being fired proper now.
SENATOR TOM COTTON: So far as the long run – nicely, we’re – however we’re stopping a variety of them from being fired earlier than Iran can fireplace them. It is a lot simpler to kill the archer on the bottom than it’s to shoot his arrows out of the sky.
So far as the long-term way forward for Iran’s authorities, Secretary Rubio is true. I do not suppose anybody may give you a easy reply. There’s most likely a variety of jockeying within Iran proper now. They’ve a really consultative, deliberative course of to interchange the supreme chief. There is a cause why he did not wish to have a transparent succession plan in place.
It is onerous to do this when the US is pummeling their management each second of the day. I am positive, although, that there are additionally some supreme – or there are additionally some leaders within Iran who is likely to be jockeying to audition for the function of Iran’s Delcy Rodriguez.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, however what you simply described when it comes to Delcy Rodriguez seems like it’s a managed transition, not regime change. Is that correct?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: Margaret, once more, as Secretary Rubio stated, it isn’t a easy reply.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, however we’re in the midst of it now, so do not you want a solution?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: We’ll proceed to hit not simply their navy capabilities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Not less than an consequence, a objective?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: However we’ll proceed to hit their navy capabilities, and we’ll proceed to hit their senior management, the ayatollahs, who’ve additionally been complicit in 47 years of heinous crimes, not solely in opposition to People, however in opposition to their very own individuals.
Once more, there is not any easy reply for what is going on to return subsequent.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TOM COTTON: However as President Trump promised final month when the Iranian individuals have been rising up in opposition to their very own regime, assistance is on the way in which. Assist has arrived.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, precisely.
You are speaking about what comes subsequent, however you then’re additionally telling me you do not know what comes subsequent. So, do you consider that regime change is feasible from air assist alone? Has a pacesetter of the opposition been recognized? Is the opposition unified to ship in a approach that President Trump is looking on the individuals to do? Are we arming anybody to really problem the regime?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: Margaret, the opposition is 90 million Iranians who’ve suffered below the brutal Islamic Republic Revolutionary regime for the final 47 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, and the president…
SENATOR TOM COTTON: We have seen in current months that there is…
MARGARET BRENNAN: … referred to as them to take over their authorities.
SENATOR TOM COTTON: And – and we might all have fun if the Iranian individuals have been capable of stand up and reclaim their freedom and reclaim their future.
And because the president stated when he promised assistance is on the way in which, assist has arrived. And that is why you’ve got already seen some protests out celebrating the loss of life of the supreme chief, the person who has brutally repressed his personal individuals for nearly 40 years.
Now, we won’t essentially dictate what course that’s going to take, however the assist that the president promised is on the scene, and it may proceed to be on the scene for most likely a couple of weeks, as we ensure that Iran’s navy is not able to threatening our personal troops, our Arab buddies within the area and Israel, and likewise repressing its personal individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is a huge gamble by the president. Earlier than the strikes, in accordance with CBS polling, 74 p.c of People stated that Trump would want approval from Congress for navy motion in opposition to Iran. He didn’t search that.
If this operation takes weeks, which is the way you described it, do you consider the administration has successfully made its case to the American public to anticipate casualties to assist this motion?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: Margaret, I assumed the president’s eight-minute video yesterday was excellent. It laid out Iran’s 47-year marketing campaign of terror and revolutionary violence in opposition to the US and our individuals and actually the civilized world.
I am positive the president will converse extra within the coming days. We may have briefings to Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Forty-seven years. He didn’t describe imminence or justify that in that video. Do you consider that the American public is owed one thing greater than a Twitter video?
SENATOR TOM COTTON: Margaret, I feel an eight-minute tackle to the American individuals, whether or not the president posted on social media or whether or not it occurs in your community, is consistent with presidential customized of addressing the American individuals.
Once more, I am positive that he will be talking extra in coming days. The administration shall be briefing Congress, and we’ll have a vote within the Congress. The Democrats are forcing a vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the Warfare Powers Act.
SENATOR TOM COTTON: I anticipate there will be overwhelming Republican assist for our troops, for the – for our troops, and for the president’s resolution to lastly remove the specter of Iran.
And I might invite Democrats within the Congress to hitch their Democratic colleagues like John Fetterman and Josh Gottheimer and Greg Landsman in supporting our troops in lastly placing America’s foot down in opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Cotton, we admire you in your function in oversight of the Intelligence Committee making the case for the administration. Now we have extra questions, and we might like to put them to the administration as nicely.
Thanks very a lot to your time this morning.
Face the Nation shall be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Becoming a member of us now could be Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
Good morning.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY (D-Connecticut): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have referred to as for Congress to return to Washington and to vote on whether or not to attempt to basically halt this navy motion.
No warfare powers Decision has ever overcome a presidential veto. Why do you suppose you should take one?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Properly, no person on this nation is asking for warfare with Iran, identical to, months in the past, nobody on this nation was asking for warfare with Venezuela.
This president is deliberately tanking our financial system. He is probably the most corrupt president within the historical past of our nation. And People need him to concentrate on the crises right here at dwelling. As a substitute, he’s busy getting us concerned in quagmires abroad that already have gotten lethal to American troopers.
It is a catastrophe. It’s unlawful. And the president is obligated below the Structure to return to Congress and ask for an authorization of navy drive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: He would not get that authorization if he requested for it. Congress would not vote to provide him the permission to do it, however he is obligated to return to Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The administration would argue Venezuela was a restricted navy operation. They see – they don’t seem to be explaining to the general public but, past that Twitter video, precisely what the plan is right here.
However the president has tweeted, in a approach, describing this as an open-ended battle till peace is achieved. You might be utilizing the time period warfare. You do take into account this to be a warfare?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Oh, after all.
We’re engaged in common, ongoing navy strikes which have – that has already killed American troopers with the objective of regime change. If that’s not warfare, what’s? Now, the president has stated that the objective is regime change, and the objective is to remove Iran’s missile program and their nuclear program.
He isn’t going to achieve both of these endeavors. His intelligence businesses have already advised him that the probably consequence is that hard- line members of the IRGC change the present management. So we’re not going to get a democracy. We’ll get a good worse Iranian management.
We already know you can’t bomb their nuclear program out of existence. He advised us final yr that he had obliterated this system. After which, apparently, over the course of the final yr…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … that they had gotten again to inside per week.
So we’ll have People dying, and the top result’s going to be hard-line management continues in Iran…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … and we do not eliminate their nuclear program? That is an ethical and strategic catastrophe for the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you are summarizing the administration’s views in maybe a extra succinct approach than they’ve, as a result of we have not even heard a transparent public accounting of the state of their nuclear program. Rubio stated they weren’t enriching. Witkoff stated one thing else.
However I wish to ask you about one thing in regard to the Senate International Relations Committee, the place you sit. The State Division has issued a worldwide warning alert to all People. They’ve arrange a process drive that they are saying they’ll attempt to determine assist the People who’re trapped within the Center East and all through the world.
However the U.S. Embassy in Israel stated they’re closed they usually can not help evacuate. Should you’re an American overseas or a member of the family, what must you be doing proper now?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Properly, I feel you’ll be able to name your member of Congress or your senator. We’ll do no matter we will to assist.
But it surely’s no secret that this administration has no plan for the chaos that’s unfolding proper now within the Center East. These scenes that you simply confirmed at first of this system are scary. Violence shouldn’t be contained simply to the Center East. It is spilling over into Pakistan and different elements of the world.
And it is no secret that our allies within the area, except the right-wing authorities in Israel, had begged us to not take this motion, as a result of they knew that the spillover, which is now trying like regional battle, was the possible consequence.
So, once more, what are we getting out of this? We’re not getting regime change to a democracy. We’re not going to remove their nuclear program. We’re going to have regional warfare breaking out. It will not be the billionaire youngsters of Donald Trump and his buddies that die. It may be the kids of middle-class and poor households all throughout this nation who’re going to die for a warfare of selection, a warfare of self-importance, an unlawful warfare.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we’re going to hope for extra briefings to Congress or engagement with the press to clarify a few of these issues.
After we are speaking in regards to the People, although, around the globe proper now, there’s additionally from the FBI and Homeland Safety concern about cyber vulnerabilities and potential threats to infrastructure. They’ve put out alerts about this.
Given the present state of affairs, Republicans are calling on Democrats to think about stopping the place you’ve got taken, which is to halt some funding to Homeland Safety. Do you’re feeling you should rethink this place?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: So, the Republicans are saying that, as a result of they launched an unlawful, disastrous warfare in Iran, we must always give them permission to proceed utilizing ICE to homicide Americans, to permit them to get the funding to tear fuel colleges?
No, we have to rise up for the Americans that ICE is murdering, the children that they’re terrorizing. They need to cease this unlawful warfare and they need to cease ICE from terrorizing our communities. We must always demand that they do each issues.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the administration would say they’ve adjusted a few of the approach they’re finishing up insurance policies inside DHS.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: They haven’t. They haven’t.
I imply, simply because a few of the world’s and the nation’s consideration has turned away from Minneapolis, that does not imply that they are not nonetheless brutalizing Americans. We simply found final week that that they had left a Burmese immigrant for lifeless 5 miles from his dwelling blind and disabled.
This brutality is continuous within the nation. We will do two issues without delay. We will demand that ICE cease murdering Americans, and we will demand that the administration not ship our children to die for a warfare that we do not want.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you consider that, with the present funding Homeland Safety has, that they can defend the homeland in an satisfactory trend? That is what I hear you saying.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Pay attention, I consider that the administration ought to make a dedication to legally prosecuting the legal guidelines of this nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: I haven’t got any obligation to fund a Division of Homeland Safety that’s violating the legislation each day, identical to I haven’t got any obligation to assist this warfare that’s unlawful as nicely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It would not – so three weeks and counting. It sounds just like the standoff shouldn’t be ending.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Properly, if they comply with begin adhering to the legislation on the Division of Homeland Safety, they will have the votes instantly.
However, pay attention, that is what the individuals need. The individuals need ICE to start out behaving legally, they usually don’t need wars abroad. So I feel it is a fairly clear case of Democrats standing with the American individuals on the subject of home crises and worldwide crises.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, again on Iran.
If there had been a briefing, if there had been full disclosure of the state of negotiations or an evaluation of Iran’s nuclear program, would Democrats have been persuadable to assist navy motion? I ask that as a result of the Biden administration initially had reached out to Iran to attempt to get to a negotiated deal, they usually weren’t capable of get one, partially as a result of they weren’t prepared to raise sanctions off of the IRGC.
So, in different phrases, are we simply in a spot the place navy battle or confrontation was inevitable, and it simply occurred to land on Donald Trump’s watch?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: No, Donald Trump precipitated this disaster, proper?
He inherited a nuclear settlement that was working that had put Iran greater than a yr away from a nuclear weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The JCPOA.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: The JCPOA.
Towards the recommendation of his advisers, he tossed that settlement out, which introduced us to this second.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. It will have expired by now.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: And there – proper, however I feel Iran would have definitely been prepared to increase these provisions if we have been nonetheless within the settlement.
However, second, there is no such thing as a historical past, there is no such thing as a expertise that exhibits an air marketing campaign alone will end in optimistic regime change. The truth is, there’s not a single instance of it within the entirety of American historical past. An air marketing campaign with out at the least the specter of a floor invasion, which the administration is ruling out, by no means ends in a democratic rebirth in an authoritarian nation.
So the plan they’ve laid out, sustained air strikes with out a floor invasion, is destined to fail. All that can occur on the finish of this, probably – pay attention, I am rooting for democracy in Iran, however the probably consequence right here is that hard-liners take over the federal government…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … they restart their missile program, they restart their nuclear program, and we’re excellent again at bombing them once more and placing American lives and regional lives in danger once more in a yr or two.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Senator Murphy, thanks…
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … to your time this morning.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Respect it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And welcome again to Face the Nation.
We shall be joined shortly by Republican Mike Turner, who sits on the Home Armed Companies Committee. And, forward, we shall be chatting with Senator Ted Cruz. Now we have been having some audio issues with him, however we hope that we will get him up and dwell from Texas quickly.
So, stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner.
Congressman, you might be on the Armed Companies Committee. I do know you’ve got been in touch with the administration to grasp what’s going on.
The rating Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, was briefed by Secretary Rubio, and he’s calling this – Warner is, a warfare of selection. He stated there was “no proof of imminent hurt to People or an imminent menace to our nation.”
Had been you knowledgeable of a particular and imminent menace to the US?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER (R-OH): Properly, this subject of imminent is absolutely this fallacy of the – actually that comes from the Obama administration’s – the nuclear weapons – the nuclear enrichment negotiations, the place the Obama administration, the JCPOA, arrange this fallacy, that we have been simply going to arrange, you understand, cameras and watch Iran do that nuclear enrichment till they obtained all the way in which to a nuclear weapon after which they have been going to kick to the following administration whether or not or not there was going to be a navy battle, which is what we have come all the way down to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is a fairly detailed worldwide accord with levels.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: However –
MARGARET BRENNAN: There have been elements that sundown. However –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: However this idea of imminent. I imply, as we simply noticed from the worldwide –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, that is separate and aside from imminent menace to justify U.S. navy drive.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: No, nevertheless it’s not as a result of it goes to actually this inherent coverage that we see that has, you understand, a thread that is come by the Democrat facet that we nonetheless see from the Democratic Obama administration’s insurance policies of what’s imminent. Imminent right here actually is that the Iranian regime continues to be a sponsor of terrorism, an amassing of missiles and stock, the place they’ve declared themselves an enemy of the US and of our allies –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: The place they’ve dedicated themselves to nuclear enrichment, and refused to declare themselves as not pursuing a nuclear weapon. And have –
MARGARET BRENNAN: They stated they weren’t.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Properly, really, they’ve – they haven’t. As we have now seen, even –
MARGARET BRENNAN: There have been. The international minister (INAUDIBLE).
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Even simply final yr we had the pinnacle of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company saying that they have been simply mere months away from with the ability to have a number of nuclear warheads. So, this – this imminent subject –
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, had sufficient materiel to make –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: This imminent subject is one the place individuals wish to have them, you understand, be, you understand, with their hand virtually on the button –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: To one thing that has been fully assembled. On this occasion, the administration has declared that that they had info, an imminent facet of that Iran was a menace, each to us and to Israel, our ally, and had the chance to take an motion to remove that menace. That is essential. We do not have to attend – we do not have to attend.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sorry, which menace although? As a result of the president stated the nuclear menace was obliterated. And not one of the nuclear websites have been hit on this spherical.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: No, no, he stated at these websites that we had taken motion to remove, the place there are nuclear enrichment websites, that we had obliterated these websites. However that they had continued to amass missile know-how and missile stock. That they had continued as has – had been declared to pursue their intention of nuclear enrichment. That they had continued –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Rubio stated they weren’t enriching.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: That they had continued their intention to pursue nuclear enrichment. That they had stated and declared that they have been going to do this. Their applications had not been fully abolished. And their intention had not been abolished. They remained a menace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: And the truth that we had the power to intervene, that imminence is extremely essential.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: This customary of what’s imminent, I imply, you
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, individuals wish to know why. Why now? That is a – that is why I am asking.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: As a result of the chance is there to remove an imminent menace that’s an imminent menace to the US and the operations and within the space and our ally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you about one other standoff between the Pentagon and Anthropic, which is the one A.I. firm whose merchandise are used on labeled methods for issues like goal I.D., intel assessments and battlefield assimilations. This morning “The Wall Road Journal” is reporting that their A.I. was, actually, utilized in these operations, regardless that Secretary Hegseth and Trump ordered it to be reduce off because of this contractual dispute over the usage of the mannequin. Anthropic’s CEO advised CBS in an unique interview that it’s as much as Congress to behave right here, to actually create readability as to how A.I. can be utilized. It is clearly important if the Pentagon’s nonetheless utilizing it on this operation. Will Congress act right here?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: I – you understand, that is one thing that they’ll must cope with and are available to Congress earlier than that is – I – you understand, clearly on this –
MARGARET BRENNAN: The administration have to return –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: On this explicit circumstance, I am unaware of this explicit subject. That is going to must be one thing that’s going to must be handled in additional element than, clearly, an interview on CBS.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Can I ask you, in that concentrating on of the supreme chief, that secretary – that Senator Cotton talked about, did the U.S. perform that strike?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Properly, I feel this is essential. The – what’s very clear right here, and I feel that is essential to debate. , the president of the US indicated that we have been concentrating on the navy, navy infrastructure, and never the regime and never regime change. And yesterday after I had the chance to speak to Secretary Rubio, you understand, I requested that query, and he was very clear within the reply, that we didn’t goal Khamenei and the – and we weren’t concentrating on the management in Iran. So, the facet of that the US was not endeavor regime change is essential. Our facet of what the president of the US has undertaken was this imminent menace that he described in his announcement and that, I feel, his response and his assertion to the US is a crucial facet.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. However you – simply to be clear, you are not saying that Israel carried out that strike with out the U.S.’ permission inexperienced lighting buy-in (ph)?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: , the truth that Khamenei has been a murderous authoritarian –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Who has killed an unbelievable variety of Israelis –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: They’ve completely, I feel, a robust foundation wherein to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: I feel it definitely exhibits that if you happen to’re a murderous authoritarian and you might be – and also you –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: That you just’re in danger and your – it is higher to be a good friend of the US than a murderous authoritarian.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: , it is also fascinating that Putin simply stated –
MARGARET BRENNAN: I might – talking of murderous dictators.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: That he misplaced – that he misplaced – that he – that he misplaced a good friend in shedding Khamenei.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: And we definitely did not see Khamenei as a good friend.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we’ll go away it there, Congressman Turner.
We’ll be again in a second with extra “FACE THE NATION.”
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MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who joins us from Austin.
Good morning to you, Senator.
I am glad we obtained your audio working. You are from Houston, I consider, this morning.
SENATOR TED CRUZ (R-TX): I’m. Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning.
I wished to ask you about Austin, although, as a result of there are experiences of three individuals lifeless, greater than a dozen injured following a mass taking pictures in that metropolis. The FBI is saying this morning that their joint terrorism process drive has joined the investigation. Is there any nexus to terrorism or something that is occurring in regard to the worldwide warning at this second?
SENATOR TED CRUZ: We do not know for positive. There are some early experiences that this taking pictures could also be related to terrorism. However we have to observe the proof and see specifically what motivated the taking pictures. We’re definitely – Heidi and I are praying for individuals who are wounded and the households of those that have been killed. However at this level, we do not know what the proof will present when it comes to whether or not this was an act of terrorism.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll proceed to observe these early experiences.
Senator, simply trying on the world atmosphere proper now, CENTCOM introduced three People have been killed and 5 critically wounded on this operation. President Trump and Vice President Vance campaigned on not getting America concerned in new wars. What do you say to People this morning who’re asking why we’re on this battle now?
SENATOR TED CRUZ: President Trump’s resolution to launch this decisive motion in opposition to Iran is the only most essential resolution of his presidency. I feel he laid out powerfully and successfully why he’s taking this motion. He takes this motion as a result of the federal government of Iran is a profound and maligned affect. They’ve been the main state sponsor of terrorism for 47 years. They’ve over that point killed almost 1,000 People. They supply greater than 90 p.c of the funding for Hamas. They supply greater than 90 p.c of the funding for Hezbollah. The Iranian ayatollah was, till yesterday, actively making an attempt to homicide the president of the US, Donald J. Trump.
I spent all the day with President Trump on Friday, proper earlier than he launched these assaults. He and I mentioned this at size on Friday. My counsel to him was that the Iranian regime has by no means been weaker, that it was teetering and now was the time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: My recommendation was, don’t miss this chance. I feel the president has acted boldly. He is acted decisively. And Iran not being led by a theocratic, murderous dictator, that makes America a lot, a lot safer.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. However, Senator, you aren’t going to search out lots of people in any approach defending the supreme chief, that’s for positive. Nevertheless, placing People in hurt’s approach is what I am urgent you on right here.
Did the president clarify to you why he referred to as off lively diplomacy? As a result of at the exact same time he was on that airplane, the vice chairman of the US was speaking to the Omani mediator, who was making an attempt to get a deal, and advised us that they have been shut to 1. Why not select diplomacy?
SENATOR TED CRUZ: As a result of the diplomacy was an adject failure. The Iranians approached the diplomacy with vanity, which – with absolute hubris. They stated they’d not cease enriching. It doesn’t matter what, they have been going to proceed to complement uranium. They’d not talk about zero enrichment. They claimed a proper to complement uranium in underground bunkers with no supervision. As President Trump stated on Friday, when he was with me in Texas, his line was zero enrichments, and the Iranians refused to debate it. In addition they refused to debate their proxies. They refused to debate Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthis. And President Trump understood that the Iranian, quote, negotiation, was only a stall tactic and that the one response – my recommendation to him, I stated, there’s just one deal you need to settle for, and it is the deal that you simply supplied Maduro, which is, if you wish to go away and flee the nation, you are able to do so. Anything is unacceptable. And Khamenei made his selection.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there’s disputes there when it comes to your characterization of what was really on the desk and what the administration had indicated it was prepared to just accept when it comes to permitting enrichment for medical functions and the like. However I – however that is now clearly finished.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: So, Margaret, what I simply advised you –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: What I simply advised you is nearly phrase for phrase what Secretary of State Marco Rubio advised me yesterday.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you able to inform us now, if you happen to consider that there was an ongoing nuclear weapons program, one of many high arms management consultants on the market, David Albright, has written, “there ought to be a direct precedence on fast response operations to safe Iran’s nuclear stockpiles proper now.”
Are you able to guarantee the general public that it will likely be secured, and in that case, who’s doing it if there aren’t any Israeli or U.S. forces on the bottom?
SENATOR TED CRUZ: So, there is no such thing as a doubt {that a} yr in the past Iran had an lively and ongoing nuclear weapons program. We took out the overwhelming majority of that on the finish of the 12-day warfare, the place Israel had taken out –
MARGARET BRENNAN: That U.S. intelligence evaluation was not made public, if that’s what was briefed to you.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: We took out – we launched focused bombs on the finish of the 12-day warfare the place we dropped the equal of a couple of third of a nuclear weapon on these underground services, services like Fordo, which was constructed into the bottom of a mountain. The bunker buster bombs we used, Israel would not have these bombs.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: No different nation has these bombs. We took them out final yr. The Iranians have been nonetheless hellbent on rebuilding them. And one of many issues we’re doing proper now could be taking out their missiles, specifically the southern missile belt. Proper now Iran is constructing roughly 100 missiles a month. They’re actively constructing missiles to threaten their neighbors. And I might level out –
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re firing a few of them proper now at their neighbors.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: At our allies.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: They’re illustrating powerfully, they’re attacking nearly each Arab neighbor that surrounds them, they’re firing missiles that – it is virtually like they wish to illustrate to the world simply how maligned they’re.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However when it comes to containing the danger, who’s securing the nuclear materials that you simply say nonetheless exists inside Iran? Who’s doing that?
SENATOR TED CRUZ: Look, the amount of nuclear materiel, I did not say one – something a method or one other on that. What I stated is that they have been constructing nuclear weapons a yr in the past and our bombing took that out.
In addition they had an ongoing want to rebuild them. I haven’t got current day intelligence on what progress that they had made in direction of rebuilding nuclear weapons since we bombed their services.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: I’ve no indication that they have been anyplace near getting nuclear weapons –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: As a result of our bombing was devastating.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: And, Margaret, that is one of many causes I urged President Trump, now could be the time.
, dictatorships survive as a result of they’re perceived as invulnerable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: On this occasion, Iran decisively misplaced the 12-day warfare. That weakened the regime and arrange what the president is doing now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Ted Cruz, we have now to depart it there for at present. Thanks for becoming a member of us.
SENATOR TED CRUZ: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again with much more “FACE THE NATION.” Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Iran coverage analyst Karim Sadjadpour, who’s with the Carnegie Endowment for Worldwide Peace, in addition to former CENTCOM commander and CBS Information contributor, retired Common Frank McKenzie, who joins us from Tampa this morning.
It is good to have each of you right here.
That is such a dynamic state of affairs proper now. Karim, I wish to begin with you. Apparently, President Trump has advised “The Atlantic” that he is prepared to speak to the brand new management of Iran. Who’s the brand new management of Iran?
KARIM SADJADPOUR (Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment For Worldwide Peace): I do not suppose that is even clear inside Tehran who’s the brand new management. , this is among the most unpopular regimes on this planet. And I am skeptical that there is going to be anybody who’s palatable for each the senior clergy, the Revolutionary Guards, and 90 million Iranians. There’s most likely no authorities on this planet with a larger hole between its authorities and its individuals than Iran.
So, I am skeptical there’s going to be any single determine who can instantly fill the large void of Ayatollah Khamenei.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Common McKenzie, what Karim is sketching out right here seems like chaos. It sounds just like the potential setting for civil warfare. Is that how you’ll assess what we is likely to be seeing come subsequent?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE (Ret., Former Commander, U.S. Central Command and CBS Information Contributor): I feel we’re nonetheless within the early levels of this marketing campaign. There are a number of days of continued strikes forward of us from Central Command and from Israel to cut back the Iranian capability to volley fireplace rockets at us. We’ll see how that progresses within the subsequent few days.
The management targets have clearly had an impact. And I consider the lack of Iranian efficient nationwide stage command and management goes to have a pernicious impact on their capability to wage this warfare.
As to what would possibly observe, whether or not it is civil warfare or a fractured state, do not know. Really, for me, it is onerous to see the way it may very well be worse than what we had earlier than.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Common, you understand this morning we have now CENTCOM acknowledging at the least three American deaths, 5 critically wounded. These are simply the opening hours. But it surely does seem that the state of affairs is simply escalating. What ought to the American individuals be ready for?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: The American individuals ought to be ready for a number of extra days of exchanges of long-range rockets. We’ll proceed to strike them with our plane, with our t-lands, our Tomahawk land assault missiles. And the important calculus over the following 72 to 96 hours, Margaret, goes to be whether or not or not we will cut back the Iranian capability to generate volleys, and by volleys I imply teams of missile which might be fired at our bases within the area. It is onerous for them to generate a variety of missiles at Israel due to the vary and simply – for varied causes. However what we wish to do is we do not wish to allow them to fireplace massive numbers of rockets at Al-Udeid Air Bases, for instance, Al-Dhafra Air Base, or the cities of our buddies within the area, which they’ve finished indiscriminately. So, that is going to be a key factor to look at over subsequent 72 to 96 hours.
CENTCOM has deliberate for this for years. We most likely going to – we’re most likely going to take extra casualties. I feel the president’s feedback really have been spot on when he warned the American those who this wasn’t going to be – it wasn’t going to be a cakewalk. I feel he is aware of that. And I – however I feel, you understand, we’re most likely going to have extra casualties earlier than that is over. I hope we will definitely decrease these.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: And I do know that our commanders within the area are doing all the pieces they will to maintain these numbers down.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now we have seen already some civilian casualties in a few of these gulf states who’re taking the incoming.
Karim, the president, you’ve got heard all of our Republican company say the president laid this out very clearly. What I heard in that eight-minute video was a recitation of fifty years of Iran’s malicious actions, all the pieces from the bombing of the Marine barracks in 1983 by Hezbollah, the taking up the embassy, all kinds of various issues, even linked the assault on the Naval destroyer in Yemen to Iran, regardless that it is usually attributed to al Qaeda. It was simply kind of an argument Iran is dangerous. We’ve not essentially gotten the element on the quick menace to the US.
You have been watching this so intently. When the president stated on the finish of his video that the Iranian individuals ought to stand up, is there any probability that the Iranian individuals can do this?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: That could be a risk, Margaret. As I stated, that is an extremely unpopular regime. I feel they most likely have at greatest 15 assist at proper the second. The Iranian individuals are spectators, not but individuals. President Trump additionally implored them to initially keep dwelling for the following few days, says it is unsafe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
KARIM SADJADPOUR: After which to grab their establishments. And so, I feel individuals are watching very rigorously to see if there are any splits throughout the regime. However, you understand, they are saying about dictatorships that their – that their most murderous at first when – at first of the reign and on the finish of the reign. And we noticed this regime bloodbath doubtlessly tens of hundreds of individuals final month. And the query is whether or not they nonetheless have that coercive and cohesive safety forces to proceed to do the identical.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, we’re listening there and seeing some audio from celebrations amongst some individuals on the information of the ayatollah’s loss of life.
You could have written, and I assumed this was fairly eloquent, “Ayatollah Khamenei lived by loss of life to America and loss of life to Israel. He died by loss of life from America and Israel.” What does this imply for the Islamic Republic to have him gone?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: He was the longest serving dictator on this planet. For 4 many years he reigned over Iran. For many Iranians, three quarters of whom have been born after the revolution, he was the one ruler they ever knew.
And I feel it is a society – I might describe it as maybe probably the most secular society within the Muslim Center East, maybe probably the most pro-American society within the Center East. And folks – Iranians acknowledge, they will by no means fulfill their huge potential as a nation as long as the ethos of their authorities is loss of life to America and loss of life to Israel. And so, there’s an unlimited demand for a authorities which, maybe not democratic, however places nationwide pursuits earlier than revolutionary ideology.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Common McKenzie, in a short time, have you ever heard an finish sport? How does America declare victory right here?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Properly, initially, Margaret, we have to have an endgame in view. However we should not be desirous about an off ramp proper now. We want to consider persevering with to impose our will on the enemy and persevering with this combat at a really excessive stage.
Sure, there’s an finish sport. And for me, at the least, and finish sport could be, both you get a regime you can negotiate with, a brand new regime, which may be unlikely, however I am – however our historical past of predicting regime adjustments within the Center East of totalitarian states is uniformly poor.
The opposite various is, you get some type of successor state that you simply would possibly be capable of reduce a cope with. Whereas it might be unpalatable in some dimensions, nonetheless chances are you’ll get a regime that is going to speak to you in regards to the nuclear program or the ballistic missile program.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. All proper, Common –
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: So, I feel there’s an finish state in view.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll look ahead to it.
Common McKenzie, Karim, thanks to your time.
And thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week, and it has been a busy one, for “FACE THE NATION,” I am Margaret Brennan.
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