Trump’s Unconstitutional War Against Iran Puts 40,000 US Troops in Harm’s Way

IMAGE: A B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker (Source: USAF)

Early Sunday, American warplanes and submarines launched attacks on three critical nuclear facilities in Iran, marking a direct involvement of the U.S. military in Israel’s conflict and raising concerns that these strikes might trigger further escalations in the Middle East. The strikes were executed by US B-2 stealth bombers, and as reported by a US official referenced in the New York Times (NYT), bunker buster munitions were deployed. President Trump stated that the goal was to achieve the “destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.” He declared victory, asserting in a televised speech from the White House that the nuclear sites had been “entirely and utterly destroyed.” 

VIDEO: Trump addresses nation after US strikes on Iran nuclear facilities (Source: Associated Press)

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Trump’s decision to greenlight strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran on Saturday night directly contradicts a bipartisan War Powers Resolution that was presented in the House of Representatives this week. The Co-sponsors of this resolution, which include Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky), are now vocally condemning the President, asserting that his actions are unconstitutional.

On June 22, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded to the unprovoked attack, stating, “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations. He further stated in a post on X: 

The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.

The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025

FM Abbas Araghchi has also accused the United States of having betrayed diplomacy and the negotiation on the nuclear topic.

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Following the assault, the IRGC stated on its official X account, “Now the war has commenced for us,” indicating Tehran’s full engagement in open conflict after the attack on a key nuclear facility. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a robust statement on Sunday denouncing the United States for its unlawful and coordinated military attack, executed in collaboration with Israel, aimed at Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.

“Today’s US terrorist assault entitles the Islamic Republic, under the legitimate right of self-defense, to employ responses that lie beyond the aggressor bloc’s deluded calculations. The invaders must await regrettable responses,” the IRGC added.

Former UN Weapons Inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter, stated in a post on X, “He (Trump) bombed two empty facilities that had been previously struck by Israel, and he bounced six bombs off an indestructible facility (Firdos), claiming destruction despite the opposite being the case.” The US airstrikes, which targeted Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan, affected six structures, in addition to four that had been previously damaged; however, according to a statement released by the UN nuclear watchdog on Sunday, these buildings housed minimal or no nuclear materials.

“The facilities targeted today either contained no nuclear material or small quantities of natural or low-enriched uranium, meaning any radioactive contamination is limited to the buildings that were damaged or destroyed,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

Iran’s twentieth wave of missiles took place just hours after the United States claimed it had struck three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This event marks the first deployment of Iran’s multi-warhead Kheibar Shekan 3 ballistic missile (fortress breaker), designed to bypass advanced air defence systems like THAAD. According to the IRGC, a total of 40 missiles, utilising both solid and liquid fuel, were launched at significant targets across the occupied Palestinian territories on Sunday. The main targets included Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, an Israeli biological research center, and several other command-and-control sites in the OPTs.

IMAGE: Iran launches 40 ballistic missiles in major retaliation; Kheibar Shekan missile used in combat for the first time, striking key Israeli targets in response to U.S.-Israeli nuclear facility strikes (Source: The Economic Times)

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it had not observed any rise in radiation levels beyond the sites. Mehdi Mohammadi, a senior advisor to the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, stated on social media that Fordo had been evacuated in advance and that the damage incurred there was “not irreversible.” Following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a post on ‘X’ that the International Atomic Energy Agency will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, June 23.

In light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the @IAEAorg Board of Governors for tomorrow.

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 22, 2025

In the United States, senior members of the Democratic Party, along with several lawmakers from the Republican Party, criticised Trump’s action as unconstitutional, warning that it could lead the nation into a larger conflict. Although mainstream media is implying that MAGA supporters have united behind Trump’s strikes on Iran, the reality is quite the opposite, as the President is currently facing considerable resistance from parts of his MAGA base, due to his unconstitutional and unilateral decision, which has put 40,000 US troops in harm’s Way. Responsible Statecraft has the story…

IMAGE: B-2 Spirit  used by the US Bomber Task Force (Source: US Department of Defence)

Kelley Beaucar Vlahos reports for Responsible Statecraft…

Trump: We ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program, and now, ‘peace’

President announces strikes on three nuclear facilities and claims victory. Lawmakers on both sides react.

President Donald Trump told the American people tonight in a brief address to the nation that Iran’s nuclear program has been “completely totally obliterated” after U.S. airstrikes on Iran overnight into Sunday morning, Tehran time.

He congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched Israel’s strikes against Iran on June 13 and has been asking for U.S. assistance ever since. “We have worked as a team like no team has worked together before.”

According to Trump and confirmed by reports earlier, the mountain facility at Fordo was struck, as well as the enrichment plant at Natanz, and another site at Isfahan. The strikes were carried out in part by B-2s, which can carry payloads of 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs. Later reports indicated that dozens of bunker busters were used on Fordo and Natanz, and that Navy submarines fired 30 TLAM cruise missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan sites.

Trump praised the “brilliant military minds” who helped plan the successful attacks — “the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.”

They said now there “will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater for Iran than we have witnessed in the last many days,” he added, noting there “are many other targets.” He then proceeded to say, “God Bless the Middle East, God Bless Israel“, and then blessed the U.S. military.

His remarks came after he first announced the strikes around 8 PM EST on his Truth Social account:

Adam Weinstein, a Quincy Institute Middle East fellow who served as a combat Marine in Afghanistan, said the U.S. has now officially put the 40,000 troops in the Middle East in harm’s way, a warning that many had tried to convey to the president and administration all week in the run up to tonight’s action.

“You’ve put every U.S. troop and embassy in the region at risk and squandered America’s diplomatic leverage, though you’ll likely think you’ve strengthened it.”

Some lawmakers pounced on the fact that the president did not have Congressional authorisation to attack, knowing that there was no imminent threat to the country.

“This is not Constitutional,” posted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky), who had been vocalizing opposition to the strikes and had proposed legislation to stop them.

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), also a veteran, urged caution. “While President Trump’s decision may prove just, it’s hard to conceive a rationale that’s Constitutional. I look forward to his remarks tonight.”

“According to the Constitution, we are both sworn to defend. My attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop,” posted Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn).

“It is so grossly unconstitutional,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a rally after hearing the news. “The only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress; the president does not have the right.”

Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has proposed a Senate version of the War Powers bill, which was supposed to get a vote this week. “The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back ‘at least 2 or 3 years,’” he posted on X on Saturday. “So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment. I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.”

Of course, congratulations have already been streaming in from the hawkish members of Congress on both sides of the political aisle, especially pertinent committee chairmen and ranking members.

“Our commander-in-chief has made a deliberate — and correct— decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “We now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies and stability for the middle-east. Well-done to our military personnel. You’re the best!”

Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said this won’t be a forever war and won’t involve American boots on the ground, but Trump was right to take “decisive action” because disarming Iran is “for the good of the world.”

“We stand with Israel tonight and pray for the safety of its people and the success of this unilateral, defensive action.”

Interest groups, including the Republican Jewish Coalition and AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), that have been pushing for this war were quick to thank Trump tonight.

“Today’s successful, targeted military action proves once again that nobody has been tougher on Tehran, or a better friend to Israel, than President Trump,” exclaimed the RJC, one of Trump’s biggest campaign supporters.

“Tonight will go down in the history books as one of the most consequential orders ever given by a U.S. President. God speed to our heroic war fighters.”

Article is being updated as the story develops…

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