Additional Coverage:
Washington D.C. – Tensions are high following Saturday night’s U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sat down with ABC News’ “This Week” to discuss the potential ramifications. He stressed the need for the U.S. to be prepared for Iranian retaliation, citing past attacks on American targets and embassies.
Echoing President Trump’s message, Cotton warned that any Iranian military action against Americans would provoke a far stronger response than Saturday’s strikes. He emphasized the severity of the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure while stating a full damage assessment is still underway.
Cotton stated the U.S. objective is not regime change, but the elimination of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He pressed the message that Iran has a chance to de-escalate and dismantle its remaining nuclear program.
When questioned about potential future targets should Iran retaliate, including the Supreme Leader, Cotton declined to rule anything out, reiterating President Trump’s resolve. He urged the Iranian leadership to heed the president’s warning and avoid further conflict.
While acknowledging his past statements advocating for regime change, Cotton maintained that the current U.S. policy focuses solely on neutralizing the nuclear threat.