Republicans and Democrats Stand United Behind Israel After Attack on Iran

In Washington, Republican leaders and Democrats who support Israel expressed solidarity following Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities Thursday night, which resulted in the deaths of key military figures.

“Israel and the United States are united in our belief that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated Friday morning. He noted that former President Trump and his administration had put significant effort into achieving this goal.

Johnson continued, saying, “Unfortunately, Iran has not cooperated and has even announced plans for a new enrichment facility. Israel felt compelled to act in self-defense, and they were entirely justified.”

Senate Majority Leader John Tune (R-SD) issued a statement Thursday night condemning Iran for enriching uranium to levels suitable for weaponization. “For far too long, Iranian leaders have openly called for the destruction of Israel, funding hostile groups near its borders, and launching missiles and drones toward Israeli targets,” he remarked.

“Today, we’ve concluded that Israel must take firm steps to safeguard its citizens,” Tune added. “The U.S. Senate stands ready to collaborate with President Trump and our allies in Israel, aiming to restore peace in the region and protect against Iranian aggression, both militarily and against civilians abroad.”

The operation known as Raising Lion successfully targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, resulting in the deaths of six nuclear scientists, including key leaders like Hossein Salami from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

In a somewhat light-hearted post on X, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) responded to the news of Salami’s death with, “Thank you, next.” He expressed strong support for Israel, urging continued efforts to eliminate Iranian leadership and nuclear personnel. Fetterman called for adequate military and intelligence resources to support Israel’s initiatives against Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation on Thursday, asserting that he would not allow these threats to persist and that the Israeli Defense Forces would continue to act for as long as necessary.

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi viewed the attack as a “declaration of war,” with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that Israel had sown the seeds for a “bitter and painful fate” for itself.

“Let’s not misinterpret the situation. Israel is not the aggressor; it has faced existential threats for a long time,” remarked Bronx Democrat Richie Torres, emphasizing that the real threat comes from the Islamic Republic and its influence in the region.

Rep. Josh Gottimer (D-NJ) labeled Iran a significant sponsor of terrorism and reiterated that it poses a direct threat to Israel, highlighting recent attacks on American military installations.

In a somewhat contrasting viewpoint, House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries stressed that while Iran must be prevented from becoming a nuclear power, he advocated for reducing hostilities. He expressed hope for calmer heads to prevail in the complex landscape of the Middle East.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has yet to present a formal response, but dissent within the party emerged swiftly. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) criticized the attack as a move designed to scuttle ongoing negotiations and suggested that U.S. policy had inadvertently bolstered Tehran’s nuclear ambitions since the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018.

Murphy remarked, “Iran would not be closer to nuclear capability if not for the actions taken by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu that alienated the U.S. from the negotiations.” Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) echoed similar sentiments, calling for renewed focus on negotiations and de-escalation.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s administration was in the midst of discussions with Iranian officials regarding the nuclear program, with a meeting anticipated in Oman shortly after the attack occurred. Trump posted on True Friday morning that he had given Iran a deadline for negotiations that they failed to meet, implying that now they might have a second chance.

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency had previously reported that Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium, leading to recent condemnation from France, Germany, and the UK.