Sen. Tom Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated Saturday that he believes that there might be “weeks, not days, of joint efforts” by the U.S. and its allies in Iran after the large navy mission launched in a single day.
“We’re in all probability taking a look at weeks, not days, of joint efforts by the US, Israel and our Arab companions, who’ve additionally been attacked this morning,” Cotton informed CBS Information’ Main Garrett. “However the upshot of it will likely be, after 47 years of waging battle towards the US and the civilized world, the ayatollahs are lastly going to face justice.”
The U.S. and Israel introduced a significant navy assault known as “Operation Epic Fury” towards Iran early Saturday. Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is presumed useless after the mission, U.S. and Israeli officers stated.
Saturday’s strikes got here after President Trump threatened the Iranian regime for weeks to make a brand new deal to rein in its nuclear program, and earlier than that, threatened it over its violent crackdown on protesters in January.
In retaliation, Israel’s navy reported a number of rounds of Iranian missile launches focusing on the nation, and no less than two main U.S. navy bases within the area had been additionally focused by Iranian missiles.
Saturday’s motion follows airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear amenities that the U.S. launched in June 2025.
Cotton is a member of the “Gang of Eight” lawmakers that embody the highest Democrats and Republicans and the heads of the Home and Senate intelligence committees and who Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated had been briefed forward of the mission. Cotton stated Saturday that the present mission must not solely curb Iran’s nuclear program but in addition to “dismantle their terror help community.” These goals will trigger it to “take longer than the strikes on their nuclear program final summer season.”
Cotton stated that there is “no query” that Iran is “at one in all its weakest factors because the revolution in 1979,” however the menace from their missiles “genuinely is imminent.”
“As I stated, they’ve hundreds and hundreds of missiles,” Cotton stated. “That is what they’re utilizing to assault us, our Arab associates and Israel as we speak. They’ve many extra missiles than we have now missile defenses. And the steadiness solely will get worse. Each single month.”
Whereas the U.S. has undertaken navy missions with out authorization from Congress, the Structure grants Congress the only energy to declare battle. After the mission in Venezuela to take away then-President Nicolas Maduro, 5 Republicans defected from the occasion to advance a battle powers decision geared toward limiting Mr. Trump’s powers, though finally the decision did fail within the higher chamber.
Republicans Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna stated they may power a vote on battle powers decision concerning additional Trump administration motion in Iran.
