[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 111 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S3582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAN

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, yesterday, the U.S. Senate got an update 
from the administration about Saturday's strike on Iran. We heard from 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 
Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan 
Caine, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They told us, 
beyond a doubt, the Iran strikes were successful.
  Two things are clear: one, President Trump protected our country; 
and, two, America drew a redline on Iran--no nuclear weapons--and 
President Trump enforced it.
  Every recent President has said a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. Bill 
Clinton said it. George W. Bush said it. Barack Obama said it. Joe 
Biden said it. Even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said back in 
2015:

       If there is only a 10 percent chance Iran uses a nuclear 
     weapon, it is vital we prevent it.

  That is exactly what President Trump did, and he did it effectively. 
For over 40 years, Iran has targeted, threatened, and terrorized the 
United States and our allies. We know from our own intelligence and 
from independent experts that Iran was dangerously close to getting 
nuclear weapons.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have called for 
diplomacy. Well, President Trump tried diplomacy for months. President 
Trump laid down guidelines and deadlines, and then he drew a redline. 
Iran used diplomatic talks to stall. It did so as it continued to race 
toward a nuclear weapon.
  As Commander in Chief, President Trump has the full authority to act. 
He did so consistent with article II, section 2 of the Constitution, 
and he did so decisively. It was a limited, powerful, and precise 
strike. It was aimed specifically at Iran's nuclear facilities--not at 
Iran's leadership, not at the Iranian people. And here is more good 
news: No American lives were lost--absolutely none.
  This was a powerful message to Iran, but not just to Iran--also to 
Russia, to China, to North Korea, and to anyone else who is an 
adversary of the United States. The message is this: America means what 
it says, and America will keep our people safe.
  Now, Democrats, of course, rushed to turn this successful strike into 
a political fight. Even today, they are forcing the Senate to vote this 
very afternoon on a resolution that says the President lacked the 
authority to do what he did. They have gone so far as to imply that the 
successful protection of the American people is an impeachable offense. 
Democrats are calling for the President's impeachment because of his 
successful attack on the Iranian nuclear program.
  National security should be something that unites us. But let's not 
forget that Democrats have said Presidents can act without a vote of 
Congress. They have said it many times in the past. Recall, when 
President Obama struck Libya in 2011, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 
Congress wasn't needed because the strike was ``limited.''
  Now that there is a Republican in the White House, what we are seeing 
is that Democrats are suddenly trying to rewrite the rules. National 
security moves fast. That is why our Constitution gives the Commander 
in Chief real authority. President Trump seized the moment. He did it 
responsibly; he did it decisively; and he did it constitutionally. 
America and our allies are safer today because of it.
  And the resolution from Senator Kaine that we are voting on today I 
believe is not needed, and I most certainly will oppose it. If passed, 
it would prevent the President from protecting us in the future. I urge 
all of my colleagues to reject it.

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