US responds to Israeli airstrikes on Iran, urges caution
U.S. lawmakers are expressing contrasting views on Israel's airstrikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites
Washington, D.C. (MNTV) – U.S. lawmakers are expressing contrasting views on Israel’s airstrikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites, with some urging restraint while others back the Israeli actions.
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the strikes as a dangerous escalation.
“Israel’s alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence,” Reed said in a statement.
He called for both nations to show immediate restraint and urged President Trump and international partners to pursue diplomatic measures to de-escalate the crisis.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has criticized Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, claiming they are “clearly intended to scuttle” the Trump administration’s diplomacy with Tehran.
“This is a disaster of Trump and Netanyahu’s own making, and now the region risks spiraling toward a new, deadly conflict,” Murphy said in a statement.
“A war between Israel and Iran may be good for Netanyahu’s domestic politics, but it will likely be disastrous for both the security of Israel, the United States, and the rest of the region.”
He added that the U.S. has “no obligation” to follow Israel into a war with Iran.
In contrast, hawkish Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Trump, voiced unequivocal support for Israel.
“Game on. Pray for Israel,” Graham wrote on social media, aligning himself with the military action.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington was not involved in the strikes and warned Tehran against targeting U.S. interests in retaliation.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio stated.
He noted that Israel had communicated its belief that the strikes were necessary for its self-defense.
Rubio also assured that the Trump administration had taken steps to safeguard U.S. personnel and was in close communication with regional allies.
“Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” he warned.
The White House has announced that President Trump will hold a National Security Council meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday at 11 a.m. local time (15:00 GMT) to address Israel’s strikes on Iran.
Fox News host Bret Baier reported that he spoke with President Trump, who reaffirmed that the United States was not involved in Israel’s airstrikes on Iran.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to return to negotiations. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” Trump said, according to Baier.
Baier added that Trump stated the U.S. would assist in defending Israel if Iran launches a retaliatory attack.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated that while Israel maintains ongoing discussions with Washington, the decision to carry out strikes on Iran was made independently by Israel.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a Washington-based advocacy group, criticized the strikes, describing them as a violation of international law. “Israel’s massive airstrike inside Iran … lacked legal justification under international law,” NIAC said in a statement posted on X.
The group condemned the operation for “unnecessarily endangering the lives of many innocent people,” citing Iranian media reports of casualties, including women and children.
NIAC also warned of escalating risks: “The full extent of this incident is still unclear, but one thing is clear: The risk of a full-scale war that could involve the United States is greater than ever before – and such a war could have catastrophic consequences.” It urged members of Congress to condemn the attack and oppose any path leading to war with Iran.
The Israeli airstrikes, which reportedly killed senior Iranian officials and targeted key military and nuclear facilities, have intensified tensions in the region, prompting international calls for immediate restraint to avoid a broader conflict.
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