U.S. military forces carried out new strikes against Iran on Monday, targeting missile sites and mine-laying ships in what’s being called a “self-defensive” move. Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said that he hopes it’s not necessary to resume large-scale military strikes.
“The president notified Congress two weeks ago that he had terminated, that’s his word, offensive operations against Iran. And I welcome that. I welcome an end to this conflict,” Hawley told Missourinet. “I hope the president is able to get this concluded. I know he’s working hard at it. He talks about it all the time. I think we’ve got envoys in the region right now.”
Missourinet asked Hawley if renewed attacks mean the start of another 60-day window without congressional authorization.
“It depends entirely on what the president would do,” he said. “I want to say that I am glad the president, I’m gratified that the president has not listened to some members of my own party who’ve urged him to put boots on the ground, who’ve urged him to undertake a massive bombing campaign. He hasn’t done any of that stuff.”
Hawley did say that level of escalation would require congressional approval.
“(I) wouldn’t want to predict what the president might do. I don’t know. And it’s his prerogative to respond as he wants,” he said. “Of course, if he responds in a way and undertakes a long-term operation, that would require congressional authorization.”
Multiple media outlets report that peace talks between the United States and Iran continue, despite Monday’s military strikes.
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