Democrats in both chambers of Congress are divided over President Donald Trump’s move to expand U.S. military deployments near Iran, with some lawmakers open to limited strikes to deter Tehran’s nuclear program and others warning the step risks another Middle East war.
Lawmakers who attended a classified briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe described the information on Iran as serious.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the administration should clearly outline its objectives to the public, while Sen. Tim Kaine said colleagues appeared concerned after hearing from senior officials.
Several Democrats said they want clearer goals before backing any military action. Sen. Maria Cantwell said she is seeking to understand what threats the Pentagon aims to address, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said the president should come to Congress with a plan before any strikes are considered.
In the House, Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz said they oppose limits on the president’s authority to confront Iran, citing Tehran’s missile development and nuclear ambitions.
Other Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, warned that military action could escalate into a wider regional conflict with significant risks for U.S. forces.
