Skip to main content

Democrats fret over Iran escalation risk

Democrats are urging the Donald Trump administration to tamp down tensions with Iran following an all-members briefing.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to reporters after being briefed on Iran by the Secretary of State and acting Defense Secretary on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 21, 2019. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan - RC1FC8F878D0

The United States’ top diplomat and its lead civilian and military defense officials today failed to assuage lawmakers’ concerns that the country may be inadvertently hurtling toward war with Iran.

“I still don’t have a clear idea of what the administration’s objectives are,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., told reporters after today’s briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford. “They have said over and over again that regime change is not the objective. What is the maximum pressure campaign trying to achieve?”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.