Schiff condemns Trump's Iran strikes, suggests only positive is setback of nuclear program

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., criticized President Donald Trump's determination to onslaught Iran's atomic sites connected Sunday, arguing that it shouldn't person happened without legislature approval, but said the lone affirmative was that it acceptable the regime's atomic programme back.

"In presumption of is determination thing affirmative to travel retired of it? Yes. I mean, the demolition of these facilities is simply a affirmative successful the consciousness that it volition acceptable backmost Iran‘s program. And look, this is simply a nefarious authorities that is the preeminent authorities sponsor of terror, should person ne'er been pursuing a atomic program. But it is precise possible, and I deliberation we person to expect Iran present kicks retired immoderate inspectors. It leaves the nonproliferation treaty. And if it wasn‘t successful a sprint for a bomb, it is present going to prosecute successful a sprint for the bomb," helium told CNN's Kasie Hunt during "State of the Union" connected Sunday.

Trump announced connected Saturday that the U.S. had successfully bombed Iran's atomic sites. Iran's subject launched strikes against Israel arsenic the president called for "peace."

"So, a batch of uncertainty finally, this was not constitutional. It was not lawful, successful the lack of a declaration by Congress. And truthful the medication should person travel to Congress, we volition person a ballot connected a warfare powers resolution. But there’s a crushed to bring this to Congress, and it is, you privation the Congress bought in, you privation the American radical bought successful connected an enactment this important that could pb to a large outbreak of war," Schiff continued.

 U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), joined by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), speaks astatine a property league introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 connected April 30, 2025 successful Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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Hunt asked Schiff if helium believed the satellite was little harmless this greeting than yesterday.

"I don‘t think, to beryllium honest, Kasie, there’s immoderate mode for america to know. Anyone who says they tin spot into the aboriginal and what the Iranian effect volition be, whether it volition assertion American lives oregon whether determination volition beryllium immoderate alteration successful the Iranian authorities oregon new, opening a caller opportunity. We simply don’t know. We simply don’t know," Schiff said. 

"And I deliberation due to the fact that of that uncertainty, you don’t privation to instrumentality an enactment similar this without a beardown ground that is that Iran was imminently pursing a bomb," helium continued. "We simply don't person that intelligence, oregon if we do, it hasn't been shared with the Congress." 

Schiff suggested Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth didn't cognize either, citing his Sunday greeting property conference. 

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Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies earlier the House Committee connected Appropriations subcommittee oversight proceeding connected the Department of Defense, connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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Trump received bipartisan pushback implicit U.S. engagement with Iran pursuing Trump's strike.

Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., criticized the president for green-lighting attacks connected the 3 atomic sites successful Iran connected Saturday night. 

"This is not constitutional," Massie said, responding to Trump's Truth Social station announcing the strikes connected Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan successful Iran. 

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is seen extracurricular the U.S. Capitol connected Wednesday, December 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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"Trump struck Iran without immoderate authorization of Congress. We request to instantly instrumentality to DC and ballot connected @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to forestall America from being dragged into different endless Middle East war," Khanna posted.