WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement:
“The Iranian regime is the most destabilizing force in the Middle East and the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat to global security and US national security. Allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons is an outcome that must never be allowed.
“President Trump has not eliminated Iran's nuclear threat.
"Despite his boasts of ‘completely and totally obliterating’ Iran’s nuclear facilities, his administration has already begun to shift its tone—acknowledging uncertainty about what was actually accomplished.
“The American people and Congress still do not know how significantly Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed, degraded, or disrupted or what the Administration’s strategy, if any, is going forward to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon in the months or years ahead.
"Instead, President Trump’s decision to strike Iran is a consequential, dangerous gamble. He has put American lives at risk, particularly servicemembers in the region; increased the likelihood of Iranian attacks against the US; and dramatically heightened the danger of an expanded US military entanglement potentially pulling us into another protracted conflict in the Middle East.
"Congress should have been involved in this decision and the American people deserve to understand clearly how such action would lead to a nuclear-free Iran and a safer world.
“We do not know the full consequences of the President's actions. And there are too many unanswered questions — answers to which the president owes Congress and the American people.
“What we do know is that Iran remains committed to pursuing nuclear capabilities — and that adversaries like Russia are already blustering that they may now more directly assist them.
“This is also a glaring failure of President Trump’s diplomacy. He promised to resolve the Iran crisis through negotiation and has often bragged about his dealmaking prowess. Instead, Trump walked away from the Iran nuclear agreement in his first term without any plan, leaving Iran to develop its nuclear program without restriction or restraint. Donald Trump's diplomatic and strategic errors have directly led to this present crisis.
“This military escalation was ordered unilaterally, without Congressional authorization or meaningful consultation. There are important Constitutional implications that must be addressed going forward.
“President Trump must immediately brief Congress on any new intelligence, his reasoning and objectives for this strike, what the military operation has accomplished, and what his strategy is going forward.
"This should be a time for leadership; for bipartisan cooperation and for the President and Congress to work together toward a comprehensive plan to ensure American security and safety, the security of Israel and other regional allies, and progress towards a lasting and just peace in the region. This is not a moment for more of Donald Trump's bluster, exaggeration, and lies.
“Finally, I am thankful for the safety of all US military personnel involved in this mission. And I pray for the continued safety and security of all US service members currently in harm's way.”