On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California
- Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia
- Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the erstwhile commandant of U.S. Central Command and a CBS News contributor
Click here to browse afloat transcripts from 2025 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan successful Washington.
And contiguous connected Face the Nation, breaking quality overnight, arsenic President Trump delivers connected his menace to usage American firepower to weaponry Iran atomic sites. Is this a one-and-done mission, oregon has the U.S. further escalated tensions successful the already volatile Middle East conflict?
It took American B-2s loaded with bunker-busting bombs successful a amazingly timed ngo that President Trump says shows the mightiness and spot of the U.S. military.
(Begin VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the United States): I tin study to the satellite that the strikes were a spectacular subject success. Iran's cardinal atomic enrichment facilities person been wholly and wholly obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, indispensable present marque peace. If they bash not, aboriginal attacks volition beryllium acold greater and a batch easier.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Just however palmy were those strikes? Can the U.S. support from getting further involved?
This morning, Iran says they volition respond and that the U.S. betrayed diplomacy. What's the menace to Americans, particularly our troops serving successful the Middle East? We volition speech with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, positive Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and 2 House members with precise antithetic governmental ideologies agreed present erstwhile it comes to U.S. involution successful a warfare betwixt Iran and Israel.
All this and much is conscionable up connected Face the Nation.
Good morning, and invited to Face the Nation.
Following the U.S. bombing of 3 atomic sites successful Iran yesterday, Trump medication officials are breathing a suspiration of alleviation that the highly classified bombing ngo appears to person gone disconnected without a hitch. But determination is besides interest present astir what happens adjacent erstwhile it comes to Iran.
Operation Midnight Hammer progressive apical concealed readying and a caput fake, arsenic 2 onslaught forces of B-2 bombers departed the U.S. flying successful other directions precocious Friday night. On Saturday, defence officials confirmed to CBS News that determination were successful information B-2s headed to Guam, flying westbound from their location successful Missouri. But those were decoys.
A abstracted fleet of B-2s departed from that aforesaid determination heading eastbound to the targets successful Iran. Pentagon officials accidental the ngo was an overwhelming success, but besides concede it is excessively aboriginal to measure if Iran inactive has atomic capability.
Fourteen 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapons, oregon MOPs, dropped connected an underground atomic installation successful Fordow and a cardinal uranium enrichment tract successful Natanz. Additional American Tomahawks struck a 3rd tract astatine Isfahan.
(Begin VT)
PETE HEGSETH (U.S. Defense Secretary): I deliberation Tehran is surely calculating the world that planes flew from the mediate of America successful Missouri overnight wholly undetected implicit 3 of their astir highly delicate sites and we were capable to destruct atomic capabilities.
We judge that volition person a wide intelligence interaction connected however they presumption the future.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: At the White House precocious past night, President Trump issued his ain stern informing to Iran:
(Begin VT)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: There volition beryllium either bid oregon determination volition beryllium calamity for Iran acold greater than we person witnessed implicit the past 8 days. Remember, determination are galore targets left. Tonight's was the astir hard of them each by acold and possibly the astir lethal.
But if bid does not travel quickly, we volition spell aft those different targets with precision, velocity and skill.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And those words, spell aft different targets, person led to disorder and immoderate interest astir what is adjacent for the U.S. relation successful this precise volatile crisis.
Secretary of State and acting White House National Security Adviser Marco Rubio present joins us.
Mr. Secretary, I cognize it has been an aggravated fewer hours, but, truthful far, it does not look that Iran has yet retaliated against the United States. What quality bash you person astatine this constituent astir their capabilities to respond, the intent of their proxies? Is determination immoderate benignant of command-and- power operation near to activate them?
MARCO RUBIO (U.S. Secretary of State): Yes, well, we volition spot what Iran decides to do. I deliberation they should take the way of peace.
We person been – we person done everything. We person bent implicit backwards, OK, to make a woody with these people. Steve Witkoff has traveled the satellite extensively, met with them – well, not adjacent met with them, met done the Omanis with them and discussed backmost and forth.
We adjacent enactment an connection to them that they wanted elements of it successful writing. And we offered it to them, a precise generous offer, by the way. We person done each – and we're prepared close now. If they telephone close present and say, we privation to meet, let's speech astir this, we're prepared to bash that. The president's made that wide from the precise beginning.
His penchant is to woody with this contented diplomatically. But helium besides told them we had 60 days to marque advancement oregon thing other was going to happen. And I deliberation they thought they were dealing with a antithetic benignant of leader, similar the kinds of leaders they person been playing games with for the past 30 oregon 40 years. And they recovered retired that's not the case.
So this ngo was a precise precise mission. It had 3 objectives, 3 atomic sites. It was not an onslaught connected Iran. It was not an onslaught connected the Iranian people. This wasn't a authorities alteration move. This was designed to degrade and/or destruct 3 atomic sites related to their atomic weaponization ambitions.
And that was delivered connected yesterday. What happens adjacent volition present beryllium connected what Iran chooses to bash next. If they take the way of diplomacy, we're ready. We tin bash a woody that's bully for them, the Iranian radical and bully for the world.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: If they take different route, past determination volition beryllium consequences for that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let maine travel up connected a operation you conscionable connection – weaponization ambitions.
Are you saying determination that the United States did not spot quality that the ultimate person had ordered weaponization?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: That's irrelevant.
I spot that question being asked successful the media each the time. That's an irrelevant question. They person everything they request to physique a weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, but that is the cardinal constituent successful U.S. quality assessments. You cognize that.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, it's not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, it was.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, it's not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That the governmental determination had not been made.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, I cognize – well, I cognize that amended than you cognize that. And I cognize that that's not the case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But I'm asking you whether the bid was given.
(CROSSTALK)
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: You don't cognize what you're talking about. And the radical who accidental that – it doesn't substance if the bid was given. They person everything they request to physique atomic weapons.
Why would you hide – wherefore would you hide things successful a upland 300 feet nether the ground?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Why would you hide six – wherefore bash they person 60 percent enriched uranium? You don't request 60 percent enriched uranium.
The lone countries successful the satellite that person uranium astatine 60 percent are countries that person atomic weapons…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … due to the fact that they tin rapidly marque it 90. They person each the elements. They person – wherefore are they – wherefore bash they person a abstraction program? Is Iran going to spell to the moon?
No. They're trying to physique an ICBM, truthful they tin 1 time enactment a warhead connected it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, but that's a question – that's a question – that's a question of intent. And you know, successful the quality assessment, that it was that Iran wanted to beryllium a threshold authorities and usage this leverage.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: How bash you cognize what the quality appraisal says? How bash you cognize what the quality appraisal says?
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm talking astir the nationalist March assessment. And that's wherefore I was asking you if you cognize thing much from March, if an bid was given.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, that – but that's besides an inaccurate practice of it. That's an inaccurate practice of it. That's not however quality is read. That's not however quality is used.
Here's what the full satellite knows. Forget astir intelligence, what the IAEA knows. They are enriching uranium good beyond thing you request for a…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … for a civilian atomic program. So wherefore would you enrich uranium astatine 60 percent…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … if you don't mean to 1 time usage it to instrumentality it to 90 and physique a weapon?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Why are you – wherefore are you processing ICBMs? Why bash you person 8,000 short-range missiles and 2,000 to 3,000 agelong – mid-range missiles that you proceed to develop? Why bash you bash each these things?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: They person everything they request for a atomic weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: They person the transportation mechanisms. They person the enrichment capability. They person the highly enriched uranium that is stored.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: That's each we request to see…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Well, and that's – truthful it was the…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … particularly successful the hands of a authorities that's already progressive successful coercion and proxies and each kinds of things that are connected – they are the root of each instability successful the Middle East.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. And nary one's disputing – nary one's disputing that. I'm not doing that here. And they were censured astatine the IAEA for that enrichment and for violating their nonproliferation agreements.
I was simply asking if we had quality that determination was an bid to weaponize, due to the fact that you person said weaponization ambitions, which implies they weren't doing it.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, we person quality that they person everything they request to physique a atomic weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Got it.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And that's much than enough.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Can – I privation to inquire you, connected the argumentation front, determination are unit passim the Middle East from the United States successful Bahrain, successful Kuwait, and different bases.
If those countries are attacked by Iran due to the fact that of their relation with the United States, volition the United States support them?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, that's precisely wherefore they're there. That's a large point, actually.
Do you cognize wherefore we person bases successful Bahrain and Qatar and UAE and successful each these places? All of those bases are determination due to the fact that those countries are acrophobic that Iran volition onslaught them. If Iran was not a menace to the region, if the Iranian authorities – due to the fact that fto maine beryllium clear, I'm talking astir the Iranian people. If the authorities was not a menace to the region, we wouldn't person to person immoderate of these bases.
Those bases are determination due to the fact that those countries are petrified that these – that the Iranian Shia clerics that tally that state volition onslaught their country.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will the United States support them if they are?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: As you know, they've got a precise hard history.
Well, that's wherefore we're there. That's wherefore we're there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, yes, we volition support them?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But they'll onslaught us, is what they're threatening to do. So we'll support our people, obviously. We'll support our people. Well, they'll onslaught our bases. And those are our bases, and we're going to support our personnel. We're prepared to bash that.
But we'll bash much than conscionable defend. We'll enforce costs connected Iran if they onslaught American personnel, whether they bash it directly, oregon whether they bash it done immoderate of these proxies that they effort to fell behind. And that includes the Houthis, so…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Another proxy of theirs.
So – but let's anticipation they don't take that route. Let's each anticipation that they really decide, OK, let's spell negotiate, due to the fact that we privation a diplomatic and peaceful solution. We person achieved our objectives. We're acceptable to negociate this successful a peaceful, successful a diplomatic way. We've been prepared to bash that for days.
They are the ones that played games…
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … arsenic they person done for 40 years, arsenic they person done to aggregate presidents. They tried to play games with President Trump, and they spot what happens.
This is not a game-playing president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: When helium says he's going to bash something, helium volition bash it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive you saying present you privation to de-escalate erstwhile you are talking astir diplomacy.
You are looking for Iran to prime up that connection that was enactment connected the array you mentioned by Steve Witkoff. Can you conscionable clarify, does that mean the U.S. would inactive let for Iran to person a civilian atomic programme if it does not enrich connected its ain soil?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But that – but that's ne'er been an issue. There's countries each implicit the satellite that person a civilian atomic program. No 1 present is saying that Iran can't…
MARGARET BRENNAN: But that's inactive the connection connected the table?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Sure. That's ever been there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Any state successful the satellite has a close to person a civilian atomic program. What they don't person a close to bash is to enrich it astatine 60 percent, fell it nether a mountain…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … and make long-range and short-range and mid- scope missiles and sponsor violent proxies each implicit the world. They don't person a close to bash that, and that's what they've been doing.
And nary one's dealt with it, and it's continued to linger. And they've played games with aggregate presidents and aggregate countries astir the world, and they've gotten distant with it for 40-something years. This is precise simple. The president wants to resoluteness this diplomatically and peacefully. He gave them a accidental to bash that.
They delayed. They had each these benignant of hold tactics. They wouldn't adjacent conscionable with america directly. We had to spell done 3rd countries.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: This is precise simple. Let's conscionable directly. Let's enactment connected agreements that we tin – that are bully for Iran, bully for the Iranian people, successful particular, bully for the information and information of the satellite and the United States.
That's ever been our preference. That continues to beryllium our preference. But they're the ones that were playing games with this. And these are the consequences. We had to execute those objectives. We had 3 objectives yesterday, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. We conducted a superb subject cognition nether the bid of President Trump, and evidently large recognition to Secretary Hegseth and General Kurilla and General Caine and each of our - - each the airmen and phenomenal radical successful the U.S. military.
No different subject successful the satellite could person done this. We achieved those objectives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No. It was astounding.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: What happens adjacent is up to the regime, OK?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: The authorities wants peace, we're acceptable for peace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: They privation to bash thing else, they're incredibly vulnerable. They can't adjacent support their ain airspace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, clearly. Clearly, they could not.
But what is the U.S. appraisal of however overmuch atomic worldly astatine those sites was moved anterior to the attack? There has been speech for days astir bombing of Fordow.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, look, we – we don't – nary 1 volition cognize for definite for days, but I uncertainty they moved it, due to the fact that you truly can't determination thing close now, and they can't determination thing close present wrong of Iran. I mean, the infinitesimal a motortruck starts driving somewhere, the Israelis person seen it, and they've targeted it and taken it out.
So our appraisal is, we person to presume that that's a batch of 60 percent enriched uranium buried heavy nether the crushed determination successful Isfahan. And that truly is the key. What they should bash with that is, they should bring it retired of the crushed and crook it over. Multiple countries astir the satellite volition instrumentality it and down-blend it. That's what they should bash with that.
And what they should bash is say, we're not going to person immoderate enrichment capableness successful our country. Instead, what we're going to person is simply a civilian atomic program, similar dozens of countries astir the satellite have, wherever we physique reactors that make energy and we import enriched material.
And we've made precise generous – I'm not going to get into each the details of the offers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But determination are different avenues present that would beryllium acceptable to them, if that's what they wanted.
If what they privation is simply a civil, peaceful atomic program, the way has ever been there. The occupation is that everything they're demanding has thing to bash with a peaceful program. They are each the things you would privation if you privation to clasp the enactment of 1 time weaponizing the program…
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … which has been their wide intent. To me, that's indisputable. I person followed this contented for 15 years…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … including the quality connected it for 15 years, OK? I person followed it.
And the intelligence, these are assessments, and sometimes they've been wrong. I person seen them revised aggregate times. These guys privation a atomic limb 1 day. They do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, to that point…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And it isn't going to happen, not portion Donald Trump is president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
You've said this is not astir authorities change, but you are describing a authorities that you person said for decades, I mean, for upwards of 40 years, has chanted "Death to America," has done each the things you conscionable described.
Isn't a diplomatic woody with them a lifeline? Aren't you offering to negociate with the aforesaid radical you're saying did each these things? So, therefore, are you really looking for authorities change?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But that's not the point. Well, that misses the point. I don't similar that they chant those things.
But 1 happening is that they chant those things. Another happening is that they chant those things, and they person panic proxies are each implicit the world, and they person long-range missiles that tin scope the United States 1 day, and they person the imaginable to beryllium 1 measurement distant from a atomic weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: One day.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Yes, good 1 time could beryllium tomorrow. Could beryllium a week from now. Could beryllium a period from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: You know, each it takes is the flip of a switch. By the way, they're not going to broadcast that to the world.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: By the clip we fig retired that they're doing it, you person each the pieces successful place. OK?.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So are determination inactive targets you privation to hit?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: It's similar you person a loaded – a weapon present and the ammunition. It lone takes 1 second. We person different targets that we could hit, but we achieved our objective.
The superior targets we were funny successful are the ones that were struck contiguous successful devastating fashion,the ones that were struck, I guess, yes, contiguous implicit determination their time, successful devastating fashion. And we've achieved that objective. There are nary planned subject operations close present against Iran unless, unless they messiness astir and they onslaught American oregon American interests.
Then they're going to person a problem. Then they're going to person a problem. And I'm not going to broadcast what those problems are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But suffice it to say, cognize this. The United States flew halfway astir the world, close into the bosom of Iran, implicit their astir delicate locations. These things got rocked.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And past we left, and we were retired of their airspace, we were implicit the water earlier they figured retired what had happened.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And determination are plentifulness of different targets. We don't privation to bash that. That's not our preference. We privation bid deals with them, and that's up to them to decide.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You said support American interests. Would the United States subject instrumentality enactment to keep, for example, the transit constituent the Strait of Hormuz open? If determination are attacks connected lipid installations, would the United States see that a nonstop enactment by the state, adjacent if it was carried retired by a militia?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, I'm not going to instrumentality options distant from the president. That's not thing we're talking astir close present successful presumption of being immediate.
But if they bash that, the archetypal radical that should beryllium aggravated astir it are the Chinese government, due to the fact that they instrumentality – a batch of their lipid comes done there. So they should beryllium the archetypal ones that are saying, if they excavation the Straits of Hormuz, the Chinese are going to wage a immense terms and each different state successful the satellite is going to wage a immense price.
We volition too. It volition person immoderate interaction connected us. It volition person a batch much interaction connected the remainder of the world, a batch much interaction connected the remainder of the world. That would beryllium a suicidal determination connected their part, due to the fact that I deliberation the – the full satellite would travel against them if they did that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will the Chinese and Russians halt trading with Iran?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: You person to inquire the Chinese and the Russians.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You haven't' asked them?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Probably not. I mean, they're getting – you know, they're – well, the Russians are getting a clump of these – you know, these drones that they're utilizing are coming from Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Exactly.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: They're coming from Iran.
So I saw the overseas minister, alternatively of gathering with Steve Witkoff, is headed to Moscow to conscionable with Putin, which was a prescheduled meeting, which is fine. You know, they tin spell meet. And you the – the Russians, astatine the extremity of the day, I mean, they bargain drones from them.
But, look, this is precise simple. They – we privation to person an statement with them, a diplomatic agreement, successful which they person a civilian atomic program, but are not enriching and don't person weapons-grade worldly oregon weapons- people capabilities laying around. It's that simple.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But they're…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: That's our involvement here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Who they commercialized with, who they woody with, those are different topics. Our nonsubjective present is precise straightforward. They're not going to person a atomic weapon. They're not adjacent going to get adjacent to a atomic weapon. They're not adjacent going to beryllium successful the vicinity of a atomic weapon, due to the fact that these radical are dangerous.
This is the extremist Shia clerics who tally that country.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And they are the root of each instability successful the region, each of it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you're offering to negociate with them.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Without this regime, determination is nary Hamas, determination is nary Hezbollah.
Well, due to the fact that we don't privation them to person a atomic weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, but fto maine – but…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: But that's the halfway objective.
But the – no, no, but I'm going done the things they've done, due to the fact that that's wherefore they can't person a atomic weapon, OK? They sponsor Shias.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, I'm conscionable trying to…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: I'm sorry. They sponsor these Shia militias, Hamas, Hezbollah, each these different violent groups. These radical aren't getting – are ne'er going to get anyplace adjacent to a atomic weapon, not portion Donald Trump is president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: For the Americans – for the Americans astatine location who are going, are we astatine war, you know, I'm trying to suss retired immoderate of the facts here.
So wherefore would – wherefore would Iran hold to immoderate bid woody if the United States has already pulled retired of 1 that they had, arsenic President Trump did successful 2018, and present launched 2 astonishment attacks? Both Israel and the United States person done so. There is specified a monolithic spot shortage there. How could you perchance travel to an agreement?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Yes, but the spot shortage started with Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I know.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, the spot shortage – the ones that shouldn't beryllium trusted are the Iranians, due to the fact that they're the ones that sponsor terrorism.
Did they forewarn america earlier they blew up the embassy successful Lebanon and killed implicit 200 American servicemen? Did they forewarn america earlier they built IEDs and blew the legs and arms disconnected of American servicemen successful Iraq? I mean, these are the radical that are doing this forever. They're the ones that nary 1 should trust.
They're the ones that person lied astir their atomic program. They're the ones that person hidden things from the planetary organisms.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But that sounds – each sounds similar we're – but that each sounds similar we're headed towards authorities alteration oregon the tendency to get these radical retired of power. Are you…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, but – no, no, no, no, no.
No, a superior overseas argumentation is 1 that's focused connected identifying what our nationalist involvement is. You don't person to similar the regime. There are a batch of regimes astir the satellite that we don't like, OK? But, successful this peculiar case, what we are focused connected is not the changing of the regime, OK?
That's up to the Iranian radical if they privation to bash that, but that's not what we're focused on. Our nationalist involvement is astir 1 thing, and that is Iran not getting anyplace adjacent the capableness to weaponize and person atomic weapons. They're not going to get anyplace adjacent that capability. The president has made that wide from time one.
Our penchant for solving that problem, that precise circumstantial problem…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: … is done diplomacy. We've said that. We've fixed it each opportunity. They played games. They tried hold tactics. They're trying hold tactics present connected the Europeans due to the fact that of the snapback provisions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When did the president marque this…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And you talked astir the JCPOA. That was a brainsick deal.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When did the president marque this decision? Because helium said helium was giving 2 much weeks of diplomacy connected Friday, and, connected Friday, these jets took off.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, the president retains the accidental to propulsion retired of this astatine immoderate moment, including 10 minutes before.
But the president ordered options. The president – look, the decision, successful my view, was made erstwhile helium wrote a missive to the ultimate person and helium said implicit the adjacent 60 days we privation to bash a woody with you and lick this occupation of atomic weaponization and we privation to bash it peacefully.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. OK.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: If, aft 60 days, we don't spot advancement oregon it isn't solved, we person different alternatives. He made that precise clear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Mr. Secretary…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: I deliberation what immoderate radical struggling with present is that we contiguous person a president who does what helium says he's going to do, and that's what happened here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And, hopefully, the Iranian authorities got that message.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … we're going to deed a commercialized break, truthful I person to wrapper you there. Thank you precise overmuch for your time.
We volition beryllium backmost successful a minute.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We're backmost present with 2 reports from the region.
Debora Patta is successful Tel Aviv.
(Begin VT)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU (Israeli Prime Minister): Your bold determination to people Iran's atomic facilities with the awesome and righteous mightiness of the United States volition alteration history.
DEBORA PATTA (voice-over): It's ngo accomplished, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who congratulated President Trump for the overnight strikes connected Iran.
(SIRENS BLARING)
DEBORA PATTA: Two hours later, Iran retaliated with a barrage of astatine slightest 30 ballistic missiles. At slightest 3 broke through. Buildings were reduced to rubble successful Haifa and present successful Tel Aviv.
This country has been cordoned disconnected aft a nonstop deed from Iran's retaliatory strike, immoderate of the worst harm successful this area. The rocket decimated an flat artifact and homes successful this neighborhood, but determination were nary fatalities. Israel has said its main extremity was to destruct Iran's atomic capability.
As satellite attraction is diverted to Iran, Gaza is sinking into an adjacent greater catastrophe, with the Hamas-run Health Ministry reporting implicit 200 deaths successful the past 48 hours alone. The injured hold to beryllium treated connected infirmary floors. Children's screams capable the exigency rooms.
(SCREAMING)
DEBORA PATTA: Gaza remains stuck successful a bloody limbo of misery and death.
(End VT)
DEBORA PATTA: Israel remains connected precocious alert. Most of the state is unopen down, and lone indispensable services are permitted to operate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Debora Patta, successful Tel Aviv.
We spell to Erbil, Iraq, with Holly Williams.
HOLLY WILLIAMS: Iran's overseas curate said this greeting that the U.S. has committed a sedate usurpation of planetary instrumentality and Iran has to respond.
Iran's ultimate leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned past week that immoderate U.S. subject involution would beryllium met with irreparable harm. It's thought that helium is present successful hiding successful a bunker. Now, U.S. subject bases present successful the Middle East are evident targets for Iranian retaliation, and they are scattered crossed this region, on with astir 40,000 American troops.
A 2nd bearer onslaught radical is connected its mode to the Middle East to boost U.S. firepower. It is wide thought that Israel did not person the firepower to people the Fordow atomic site, wherever Iran's been enriching uranium and which is buried wrong a mountain. But present that the U.S. has bombed it, the question is, what comes next?
One result is that Iran capitulates and agrees to springiness up its atomic program. But different result is that Iran whitethorn beryllium much motivated than ever earlier to make atomic weapons to support itself from further attack. One Iranian lawmaker posted connected societal media overnight, seemingly speaking to that possibility, saying – punctuation – "Knowledge cannot beryllium bombed."
MARGARET BRENNAN: That's Holly Williams successful Iraq.
We volition beryllium close back.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Coming up next, we volition beryllium talking with 2 of the astir vocal critics of the U.S. engaging successful overseas conflict, particularly without legislature authorization. But these 2 are precise acold isolated erstwhile it comes to the governmental spectrum.
California Democrat Ro Khanna and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie are lasting by, and we volition bring you that speech successful a moment.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: And we volition beryllium backmost with more. Stay with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome backmost to FACE THE NATION.
Democratic Ro Khanna joins america from San Francisco, and present successful workplace is Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie.
And bully greeting to some of you gentlemen.
I'll commencement with you, Congressman Massie.
You know, I cognize – this is an improbable pairing. You are connected wholly antithetic ends of the governmental spectrum, but you some worked connected this warfare powers solution to prohibit U.S. forces from prosecute successful hostilities against Iran without authorization from Congress. The president conscionable blew close past that.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): Well, you know, I deliberation I correspond portion of the conjugation that elected President Trump. We were bushed of endless wars successful the Middle East, and bushed of wars successful eastbound – eastbound Europe, and we were promised that we would enactment our veterans, our migration policies and our infrastructure first. And truthful what Ro and I did, we did this past week when, you know, they were rattling the sabers, due to the fact that we saw this coming. We enactment guardant this warfare powers resolution.
I've teamed up with Ro Khanna earlier connected this, to his credit, erstwhile Joe Biden was president. We tried to rein successful the enforcement and reassert Congress' authorization – psyche authorization to state warfare and to – and to prosecute oregon authorize the engagement of acts of war.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Something we talked to different lawmakers astir arsenic good successful the Senate, and I cognize there's efforts to enactment you, but the talker of the House, who is from your ain party, has truly rejected this. He says, "the Article One powerfulness of Congress truly allows for the president to bash this. It was a limited, necessary, targeted strike," helium says.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Well, he's astir apt referring to the War Powers Act of 1973, but that's been misinterpreted. There were nary imminent menace to the United States, which was what would authorize that. And I deliberation that's peculiar to perceive that from the talker of the House.
Look, Congress was connected abrogation past week erstwhile each this was happening. Speaker –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You haven't been briefed connected immoderate of the details.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: We haven't been briefed. They should person called america each back. And, frankly, we should person debated this warfare powers solution that Ro Khanna and I offered, alternatively of staying connected abrogation and doing fundraisers and saying, oh, well, the president's got this nether control, we're going to cede our law authority.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ro Khanna, Congressman Khanna, and we didn't perceive from the secretary, the mentation arsenic to wherefore now. We haven't heard that from anyone different than a notation to the president had a astir 60-day timeline connected diplomatic talks. But we besides cognize helium had much talks scheduled erstwhile Israel launched this attack. So, it's conscionable – it's not precisely wide the emergency. You volition beryllium briefed, on with different members of Congress, Tuesday. What are the questions you have?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, archetypal of all, the calamity successful this state is that we support entering these overseas wars. We triumphantly state the ngo is accomplished the time after. And past we're near with Americans burdening the consequences for decades.
Now, Thomas is perfectly close successful showing courage. I mean the headlines each crossed this state says, the United States enters warfare with Iran. He is really representing a batch of the radical successful the MAGA base. People similar Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Theo Von, who has had them on, who is saying, we don't privation this war.
And I heard your interrogation with Secretary Rubio. He's saying, well, we privation a bid deal.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: We privation to marque definite that Iran tin enrich uranium done civilian purposes. Well, we had that. We had that successful the JCPOA. And determination was not a azygous usurpation that the IAEA recovered during that time.
So, my question, I guess, is, present you're going to unit Iran to spell covertly into processing this atomic material. Now you've enactment American troops astatine risk. Now you're wasting billions of our dollars due to the fact that we're sending much troops to the Middle East. What did you accomplish, and wherefore are you oblivious to the American radical who are sick of these wars?
MARGARET BRENNAN: But, Congressman, are you unfastened to the thought that determination could beryllium quality that is disclosed to you successful this classified mounting connected Tuesday that could warrant this, oregon is immoderate subject action, successful your view, you know, war?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Well, I'm ever unfastened to caller intelligence, but the procedures should person been that Congress beryllium briefed earlier we decided to participate warfare and that we really had a ballot connected it. You had Tulsi Gabbard, who conscionable months ago, the manager of intelligence, saying that was not the case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: The world is, and – and we should conscionable talk up, determination are radical who privation authorities alteration successful Iran. And they are egging this president connected to bomb. I anticipation cooler heads volition prevail. We request to walk Thomas Massie and my warfare powers solution to marque it wide that we're not going to get further entrenched into the Middle East.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And – and, Congressman Massie, it's absorbing due to the fact that you were talking astir a portion of the enactment you represent. The caput of authorities comes from a antithetic portion of that aforesaid party, arsenic you know.
And – and I did hone successful connected the question astir intelligence, and wat it showed. He called it an ambition to weaponize. Weaponization ambition. That's antithetic than they're making a atomic weapon.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Yes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But are you unfastened to quality and persuasion here?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: I'm unfastened arsenic well. But, look, successful the archetypal Iraq war, the 2nd Iraq war, and the warfare successful Afghanistan, Congress archetypal got the briefings. Congress met and debated. It should person been declarations of war, but astatine slightest they did an authorization of the usage of subject force. We haven't had that. This has been turned upside-down, this process.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you heard from Mitch McConnell, the erstwhile Republican leader, the Senator, saying it was a atrocious week for the isolationists. He was talking astir Tucker Carlson and helium was talking astir Steve Bannon.
Do you deliberation that the president is making a prime here, oregon is helium trying to person it some ways? Both saying, I'm going to delight the hawks of the enactment by bombing, but them I'm going to accidental I privation a bid woody and marque the isolationists blessed by saying, you know, I'm not committing to thing much than 1 and done?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Well, I'll concede this, it was a bully week for the neocons successful the subject concern analyzable who privation warfare each the time. I wouldn't telephone my broadside of the MAGA basal isolationists. We are – we are exhausted. We are bushed from each of these wars. And we're non- interventionists. I mean this is what – this was 1 of the promises. I mean are you going to telephone President Trump's run an isolationist campaign? What helium promised america was, we would enactment America first. And I – and I deliberation determination are inactive voices successful this administration, you've inactive got J.D. Vance, you've inactive got Tulsi Gabbard, you've inactive – RFK Jr., you've inactive got calmer heads that could prevail.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They were not persuasive successful this case, clearly.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Well, idiosyncratic was persuasive. APAC is precise persuasive, for instance, the Israeli lobby successful Congress. If you – if you look astatine my colleagues' feeds now, there's – they each look the same. They're each tweeting the aforesaid message, that we've got to enactment Israel and we've got to bash this.
My question is, does, you know, 3 bombings and we're done with Iran's atomic ambitions –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Is that the 2 weeks to dilatory the dispersed of 2025? Is this, you know, we were told 2 weeks to dilatory the dispersed then. Now we're told it's conscionable going to instrumentality 3 bombings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So –
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: But what happens erstwhile Israel gets bombed again? Is – is Trump going to beryllium by and say, no, we're not going to further prosecute successful this war?
MARGARET BRENNAN: I tried to get answers from the caput connected that question. But erstwhile you accidental the pro-Israel lobby, APAC, bash you spot a quality betwixt Israel's interests and American interests?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Absolutely. Yes. I mean, look, the – Iran – the world is, they don't person a rocket that tin scope the United States. They're not adjacent to getting a rocket that tin scope the United States. I deliberation this – what has happened, what has transpired this week has been planned for months. That – that, you know, this administration, and possibly adjacent the medication anterior to that, said, you spell successful and soften them up, instrumentality retired their aerial defence capabilities, and past we'll nonstop successful the large bombers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Congressman Khanna, you – I cognize you person raised objections connected this programme successful the past astir Israel's operations successful Gaza, for however it has conducted that warfare against Hamas. That was a antithetic context. But present you precise good whitethorn beryllium asked to supply much weaponry to Israel to support itself. Do you reason that arsenic well?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Well, first, fto maine conscionable accidental that it's a wholly unfair smear to telephone radical isolationists. The immense bulk of Americans who don't satellite warfare and privation diplomacy. Diplomacy and engagement is not isolationism. But, look, connected Israel, I person supported assistance and enactment defensively. And adjacent the warfare powers solution says that if Iran is striking Israel, they – you – we tin supply defence truthful that Israel isn't hit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Got it.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: What I opposed was giving Israel violative weapons to spell and termination much radical successful Gaza, I deliberation that warfare needs to end.
But I deliberation the bottommost line, Margaret, is, what person we achieved here? We person – we're going to propulsion Iran to present beryllium similar Pakistan and North Korea, spell successful and effort to make a atomic weaponry covertly. We person enactment much American troops astatine risk. We're going to walk much resources enactment –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Going and getting much entrenched successful the Middle East. And we've created a procreation of hate. It's like, tin this state learn?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: We support voting for radical for president who accidental we're not going to get into wars.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: And past they support getting pushed by the Washington beltway to get america into this mess.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Congressman Khanna, Congressman Massie, convey you. In a rare, bipartisan gathering of the minds, astatine slightest connected this issue.
We'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We spell present to Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who joins america from Richmond, Virginia.
Good greeting to you, Senator.
SENATOR TIM KAINE (D-VA): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I cognize you beryllium connected the Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. But what we conscionable heard from the Pentagon was that Congress was notified aft this onslaught connected Iran was concluded, aft the U.S. jets were backmost and successful safety. Is this sufficient?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Margaret, no. Congress needs to authorize a warfare against Iran. This Trump warfare against Iran. We person not. Congress should beryllium consulted with it. We were not. And Congress needs to beryllium notified, not aft the fact, but successful advance. We were not.
That's wherefore I filed a warfare powers solution that volition ripen and beryllium brought to a ballot connected the level of the Senate this week. Senator Schumer is moving with Leader Thune to marque that happen.
The United States should not beryllium successful an violative warfare against Iran without a ballot of Congress. The Constitution is wholly wide connected it. And I americium truthful disappointed that the president has acted truthful prematurely.
The overseas curate of Israel said Friday nighttime that its ain bombing run had acceptable the Iranian atomic programme back, quote, "at slightest 2 oregon 3 years," closed quote. There was nary urgency that suggested, portion diplomatic talks were underway, that the U.S. should instrumentality this unilateral enactment by President Trump's orders yesterday.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the vice president was connected different web earlier this greeting and said, "we are not astatine warfare with Iran. We are astatine warfare with Iran's atomic program. There seems to beryllium a batch of ineligible parsing connected the explanation of the word"war" here. What bash you marque of that description.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: I deliberation it's – it's B.S. And I deliberation anybody proceeding it would reason the aforesaid thing. When you're – erstwhile you're bombing different nation, inquire them if they deliberation it's war. They do.
Would we deliberation it was warfare if Iran bombed a U.S. atomic facility? Of people we would. And the U.S., you know, we – we've invaded 2 neighbors of Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq, to topple their regimes since 2000. Those were wars.
This is the U.S. jumping into a warfare of prime astatine Donald Trump's urging without immoderate compelling nationalist information interests for the United States to enactment successful this way, peculiarly without a statement and ballot successful Congress. We should not beryllium sending troops and risking troops' lives successful an violative warfare without a statement successful Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, conscionable connected the facts, though, the president has not authorized crushed forces. In fact, he's said helium truly doesn't privation to nonstop successful crushed forces. When it came to what was conscionable described to the nationalist by the Pentagon, it was truly characterized arsenic constricted successful scope. It sounds similar you judge those aboriginal hr descriptions are going to crook retired to beryllium false.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: I do. The warfare powers solution says that a subordinate of Congress tin situation the president if the president initiates hostilities against a overseas nation. It doesn't usage the – adjacent though the – the rubric is warfare powers resolution, the statute says if you initiate hostilities without legislature authorization, adjacent a azygous subordinate of the House oregon Senate tin unit a ballot connected the Senate floor.
There is nary uncertainty that the U.S. sending this monolithic acceptable of Tomahawk missiles and B-2 bunker-busters connected 3 Iranian atomic sites is hostilities. Now again, immoderate successful the Senate whitethorn accidental this is large and we privation to ballot for it. I hap to deliberation that getting into a 3rd violative warfare successful the Middle East successful the past 25 years is perfectly reckless and foolish. And I'm going to beryllium doing everything I tin to person my colleagues of that. I whitethorn oregon whitethorn not succeed. But Congress should person the statement and ballot connected this earlier we escalate the hazard to American troops, which this enactment has done.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We cognize that anterior to this enactment Northern Command had already directed further information measures connected each U.S. subject installations. You've got a batch of subject installations successful Virginia. What bash you cognize astir the menace to the homeland astatine this point?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: We're going to person a briefing Tuesday, Margaret, and I'll larn much then. But what I bash know, I besides person a batch of Virginians deployed successful the Middle East. There are astir 40,000 U.S. troops deployed each implicit the Middle East, sailors connected Navy ships successful the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, folks successful onshore bases successful Syria and Iraq.
And, yes, this enactment dramatically raises the hazard to them. And the question is, for what? If the Iranian atomic programme – Vice President Vance says it's a warfare against their atomic program. Of course, we had curtailed that diplomatically a fewer years agone until Donald Trump tore up the diplomatic deal. But adjacent if you needed to wage war, erstwhile the Israeli overseas curate is saying we've acceptable the atomic programme backmost astatine slightest 2 oregon 3 years. Why motorboat this strike, escalating risks to Americans and American troops implicit the play with nary existent treatment with Congress, nary existent statement earlier the American public. I don't privation to beryllium lied into different warfare successful the mode we were with Iraq successful 2002.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Senator.
We'll beryllium backmost successful a moment.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We spell present to the erstwhile commandant of CENTCOM, which controls U.S. forces successful the Middle East, our CBS News contributor, retired general, Frank McKenzie.
Welcome backmost to FACE THE NATION, General.
And – and your erstwhile colleagues astatine CENTCOM highly engaged implicit these past fewer hours. From the cognition arsenic you've heard it described, what are the questions that – that travel to your caput astir "Midnight Hammer" and being capable to measure its success?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE (Former Commander of CENTCOM): So, it looks similar it was a palmy cognition from what we cognize now. It volition instrumentality a small portion to physique the conflict harm assessment. And that volition travel retired present successful the adjacent – successful the days up and we'll get a overmuch amended picture.
But I deliberation we've done important damage. Significant, possibly irreversible harm to the Iranian atomic program. I deliberation close now, though, astatine CENTCOM, everyone is focused connected the adjacent step. And the adjacent measurement volition be, volition determination beryllium an Iranian response? What volition that effect look like? What tin we bash to support our forces, our embassies, our citizens successful the region. And what options tin we springiness the president should we take to respond arsenic a effect of an Iranian attack?
So, they're highly engaged down determination close now. And what – but 1 of the cardinal things they privation to bash is, you privation to marque it precise wide to Iran that we person important combat powerfulness successful the theatre and volition beryllium capable to usage it against them should they onslaught us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that's – that's the anticipation that they don't bash something. Are you amazed that determination has been nary retaliation successful the past fewer hours? And wherever would you beryllium looking arsenic an areas of concern? There are a batch of Americans who person household members successful the region.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Absolutely, Margaret. So, for 1 thing, I deliberation the Iranian determination making is simply a small crippled close present due to the fact that of the nonaccomplishment of elder leaders. And arsenic you're good aware, the Iranians don't person bully succession planning. People thin to spell into jobs and enactment determination for a agelong play of clip portion they enrich themselves and their families. So, cronyism is what – however you get to the apical successful their system, which is atrocious quality if abruptly that idiosyncratic is nary longer there. There's nary 1 acceptable to measurement in. So, the ultimate person astir apt has occupation talking to radical and getting his orders followed.
Now, to your question astir wherever they mightiness strike. I deliberation we're surely susceptible successful Iraq. I deliberation we're definite venerable successful Syria. And I'm definite that Central Command has done each the things we request to bash to harden ourselves against those imaginable attacks.
The aforesaid for our different bases crossed the region. I don't cognize that it would beryllium localized to the region, though. Iran has agelong harbored the tendency to onslaught america successful the United States. They typically person not been effectual erstwhile they've done that. We've caught them successful a mates of plots that are precise nationalist that you're good alert of. So, I deliberation each those things are connected the table. But it whitethorn instrumentality the Iranians a small portion to enactment done this process due to the fact that nobody's excited astir going to a gathering successful Iran close now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you're talking astir immoderate of the quality actions taken by the Mossad to convene immoderate of these leaders and past termination them each astatine once.
When it comes to what the caput of authorities said earlier successful this program, I asked him specifically if the U.S. would instrumentality subject enactment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Iran tried to adjacent it. We cognize that's been talked about, astatine slightest successful the nationalist abstraction successful Iran close now. What would that cognition look like? Rubio said they're not precisely talking astir it successful this moment, but they are disquieted astir the – the Iranians mining it.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: The Iranians bash person the capableness to excavation the Strait of Hormuz. But we person precise bully plans to wide that if we had to bash it. We enactment connected those plans each the time. It would beryllium a – it would beryllium a stroke to satellite commerce for a play of time. But astatine the end, the Strait would beryllium cleared. And I'm beauteous assured the Iranian navy would each beryllium sunk astatine the extremity of that operation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the CIA – the erstwhile CIA director, Bob Gates, the erstwhile caput of defense, who was connected this programme precise recently. And I asked him astir bombing the Iranian atomic program. He said, erstwhile helium had looked astatine it, helium thought it would astatine champion hold Iran's atomic ambitions, not extremity them.
You person looked astatine this occupation acceptable successful large detail. Do you hold that subject unit is not capable to extremity the program?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Ultimately, you request a argumentation determination from Iran to extremity the atomic program. So, I deliberation the secretary's close successful that – successful that – successful that position. Now, if – if you don't get a argumentation determination from Iran, you've got to perpetrate yourself possibly to revisiting striking the atomic programme arsenic the Iranians statesman to dispersed retired and – and – and proceed to prosecute the atomic option.
Here's the 1 thing, though. We person beauteous bully cognition of what goes connected successful Iran. And that bully cognition is going to continue. So, they're not apt to beryllium capable to bash thing successful concealed that would abruptly creep up connected us. We – we – we thin to support precise adjacent way of this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But it comes up again and again and the concern, arsenic we were talking astir with our lawmakers, this creeping towards a broader war, this creeping towards America getting drawn into a warfare that Israel started to instrumentality retired Iran's atomic program, I'm not asking astir the intent of the authorities itself, but what is the extremity end here? How bash you justice success? Have you adjacent heard the Israeli government, oregon the U.S. government, accidental what occurrence is?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Well, I deliberation we've been beauteous wide that we don't privation Iran to person a atomic weapon. They are adjacent to possessing a atomic weapon. I heard each the exchanges backmost and distant with the – the different guests connected your amusement this greeting astir however adjacent they mightiness oregon mightiness not person been.
But I deliberation that's the 1 perfectly non-negotiable happening here. And you tin get that done an Iranian argumentation determination and not prosecute a atomic weapon, oregon you tin get that done removal of that capableness to specified a level that they can't bash it.
The 2nd lawsuit is not the preferable case, obviously. But you – but determination are ways to bash this. And I – the 1 happening I would adhd astir the onslaught that occurred present implicit the past fewer hours, it was cautiously crafted, narrowly designed against the atomic programme to springiness Iran country to maneuver, diplomatic country to maneuver, if they privation to question a mode out.
So, I deliberation that was precise clever. Let's spot what happens. The main extremity of Iranian authorities trade is today, arsenic it has ever been, endurance of the regime.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Under definite of these scenarios, if you spell guardant and the warfare widens, I deliberation the endurance of the Iranian authorities is precise overmuch connected the table. And that's thing they're going to privation to avoid, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But arsenic you were conscionable saying, there's – there's nary wide succession program that the U.S. knew of, astatine slightest recently, and they can't get ahold of the boss, he's successful a bunker. So, however bash you really get a argumentation decision, and past tin orders really beryllium given?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: So, it's a – it's a precise hard clip for Iran close now, I – I – I admit each your points. But the – the commandant (ph) remains alive, astatine slightest arsenic acold arsenic I know, helium remains alive. He's astir apt having occupation having meetings. He's astir apt having occupation getting his orders followed. But helium inactive asserts that he's successful charge, arsenic of a mates of days ago. And we – I don't deliberation we've made immoderate effort to onslaught him, nor person the Israelis.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
Well, right. And CBS had been reporting that President Trump advised the Israelis not to instrumentality retired the ultimate leader.
We'll permission it there.
And we'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That's it for america today. Thank you each for watching. Until adjacent week. For FACE THE NATION, I'm Margaret Brennan.
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