House representatives received a classified briefing on Iran today. As CNN spoke to them after the briefing concluded, lawmakers appeared divided along party lines, with Republicans reinforcing their belief that the US strikes were effective and some Democrats expressing skepticism.
Here’s what to know:
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Let me just say, I’m almost sorry I went to this briefing, because almost everything that was there is in the public domain,” the California Democrat said, downplaying the substance of the briefing. “A little bit additional information.” Pelosi also expressed skepticism about the extent of the damage done to Iran’s nuclear program.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna: “So a lot of unanswered questions about how long this has actually set back the Iranian nuclear capability, and I still have a very strong view that ultimately we need verification and diplomacy to succeed,” he told CNN.
GOP Rep. Greg Murphy: The purpose of the US strikes was never to get rid of Iran’s nuclear material, but to eliminate certain aspects of Tehran’s nuclear program, he said. “Those were eliminated.”
GOP Rep. Tim Burchett: “I think there was a lot of relief in the room,” he said. “I’m very confident and the president made the right decision.”
Other key news:
• US position: President Donald Trump said he would “absolutely” consider bombing Iranian nuclear sites again if he thought it necessary. He added that he does not believe that Iran can “go back into nuclear any time soon.” The president also said he was “not really” concerned about secret nuclear sites in Iran when asked about that possibility, suggesting that the country is more focused on survival for the time being.
• Israel details damage caused in Iran: The Israel Defense Forces said it struck more than 900 targets, destroying 200 missile launchers, inside Iran during its unprecedented “Operation Rising Lion.” It killed 11 Iranian nuclear scientists and 30 senior security officials, including three top commanders. The strikes also destroyed aircraft and missile production sites, “thereby preventing the manufacture of thousands of additional missiles,” according to the IDF statement. CNN cannot independently verify these figures.
• Iranian assessment: President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a video message to a conference in Belarus, said that had Iran not responded to Israeli strikes this month, the situation could have escalated into a “full-scale and uncontrollable war in the region.” Claiming that Israel had targeted civilians, he said Israel “killed outside the norms of war.” The Iranian health ministry has said that 627 people were killed in Iran by Israeli military action.
