President Trump sent a notice to Congress that he has directed the military to continue strikes against Iran through the War Powers Act.
In the letter addressed to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Trump wrote that his administration “engaged in productive, good-faith efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to Iran’s malign behavior and to end its threat to the United States and our allies and partners,” an action culminating in the signing of a memorandum with Iran to “make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels.” Despite this agreement, Iran attacked several commercial vessels.
In response to Iranian attacks, the United States carried out defensive strikes. “United States ground forces are not involved in these strikes,” President Trump assured. “These strikes are limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties. They are focused on military capabilities posing a threat to the United States homeland, advancing United States national interests, securing safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and defending our regional allies and partners.”
Trump went on to explain that the military action is consistent with his responsibility to protect the nation’s people and interests, both at home and abroad. “I acted pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and as Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.”
As President Trump defends the military action, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) recently announced that he intends to introduce a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s involvement in Iran. He shared the news on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he told Kristen Welker that President Trump took action in Iran ”not because we were attacked or because there was an imminent threat of attack, but because he chose to do so.”
