Rubio: Iran Strike Aimed to “Degrade/Destroy” Nuclear Sites

Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on “Face The Nation” that the Trump administration’s precision strike on Iranian nuclear sites, “Operation Midnight Hammer,” was specifically designed to “degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.” This clarification comes as the administration defends the Saturday operation, carried out without congressional approval, against accusations of illegality and overreach. The massive strike involved 125 aircraft and 75 precision-guided weapons hitting Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Rubio emphasized that the action was “not an attack on Iran, it was not an attack on the Iranian people, this wasn’t a regime change move.” Vice President Vance, on “Meet The Press,” echoed this sentiment, stating that the U.S. was “at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” not Iran itself, and asserted the President’s inherent authority to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He also sought to reassure a war-weary public that this operation would be decisive and not prolong U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
However, the lack of congressional consultation has ignited a fierce debate on Capitol Hill. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), co-author of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, sharply criticized the President’s actions on “Face The Nation,” stating there was “no imminent threat to the United States” that would bypass Congress’s war-declaring powers. He lamented lawmakers’ absence for fundraising while constitutional authority was “ceded.”
Despite Massie’s dissent, House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly backed Trump, asserting on X that congressional leaders were aware of the “urgency” and that the “imminent danger” justified the rapid strike. He maintained that Trump “fully respects the Article I power of Congress,” citing historical precedent. Nevertheless, several top Democrats, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), expressed strong condemnation, highlighting the increased risk to American troops and the alleged violation of the War Powers Act.