Sen. Jack Reed, the rating Democrat on the Senate Armed Providers Committee, mentioned Sunday he believes the U.S. is in a “a lot worse place” with Iran for the reason that struggle began, and that he would not imagine President Donald Trump has a plan to realize his acknowledged goals.
“We’re in, in lots of respects, a a lot worse place,” Reed advised ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “The regime in Tehran might be extra hostile and fanatical than the one which we changed … We’ve got not but resolved the problem of nuclear materials in Iran. So this has been a tactical demonstration of prowess, however has not achieved the strategic objective that the president introduced, and he appears to not have a plan to realize these targets.”
The U.S. struggle with Iran has now spanned 10 weeks, and whereas a ceasefire is ongoing, the 2 nations have been at a stalemate after peace talks failed April 12. The essential Strait of Hormuz stays closed, sending oil costs skyrocketing globally.
Sen. Jack Reed, rating Democrat on the Senate Armed Providers Committee, seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Could 3, 2026.
ABC Information
The Trump administration has constantly mentioned that stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was a major goal for going to struggle. Iran has maintained that they don’t seem to be searching for nuclear weapons.
Requested by Raddatz about remarks from Reed’s colleague Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speculating that there could possibly be extra strikes on Iran, Reed mentioned that it’s attainable, however that he doesn’t know what the president may do subsequent.
“I do have the impression from a few of the briefings that I’ve acquired, in addition to different sources, that an imminent navy strike may be very a lot on the desk, which is deeply disturbing as a result of it might nicely contain American little children in hurt’s manner and potential huge casualties,” Blumenthal mentioned on CNN Thursday.
“Effectively, they’re actually positioned for strikes. That is what a navy pressure must be,” Reed mentioned. “I do not imagine the President has a plan. I believe it is impulsive. It is day after day. It is how [Trump] feels, and he isn’t being given I believe the help and the planning that’s essential to make even handed judgments.”
Reed sparred with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth in an Armed Services Committee hearing final week, accusing the secretary of “dangerously” exaggerating the navy successes of the struggle.
“The issue together with your statements, Mr. Secretary, is they’re dangerously exaggerated,” Reed mentioned in his opening assertion on the listening to. “Iran’s hardline regime stays in place, it nonetheless retains stockpiles of enriched uranium, and its nuclear program stays viable.”
Hegseth was requested if the president would ask Congress for authorization to proceed the struggle — underneath the War Powers Resolution, presidents should ask Congress for authorization to proceed a navy operation after 60 days.
That 60-day deadline handed on Friday, however Hegseth argued within the listening to that the clock paused as soon as Trump declared a ceasefire. Trump despatched a letter to Congress Friday affirming that argument, saying “hostilities that started on February twenty eighth, 2026, have terminated.”
Reed disagreed with that assertion Sunday.
“The language of the statutes doesn’t present for timeouts, like in a soccer sport,” Reed mentioned. “There is usually a 30-day extension to 90 days, however that must be requested by the president. We’ve got to be notified. No such notifications have come by way of. The president’s ignoring the legislation.”
