Key points
- A reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence: Senator Reed
- Action appears to deliberately undermine ongoing US negotiations: Senator Kim
- This is a disaster of Trump and Netanyahu’s own making: Senator Murphy
WASHINGTON, United States: Democratic senators sharply criticised US ally Israel on Thursday for its strikes on Iran, as the White House distanced itself from the attack but Republican senators voiced gratitude to Israel.
“Israel’s alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence,” Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island said in a statement.
Very notable that the ranking member of SASC rightly refers to Israel’s attack on Iran as “reckless escalation” and “military aggression,” not “self defense” or “preemptive strikes” or any of that nonsense. https://t.co/l7nvOAQtkh
— Matt Duss (@mattduss) June 13, 2025
His comment came after Israel carried out a “preemptive” strike against Tehran’s nuclear and military sites, in defiance of a call from US President Donald Trump to refrain from attacking Iran.
Reed, the top Democrat on the US Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that the “strikes threaten not only the lives of innocent civilians but the stability of the entire Middle East and the safety of American citizens and forces.”
“Never the answer”
“While tensions between Israel and Iran are real and complex, military aggression of this scale is never the answer,” he insisted.
“I urge both nations to show immediate restraint, and I call on President Trump and our international partners to press for diplomatic de-escalation before this crisis spirals further out of control.”
Other Democrats also voiced alarm.
“Deliberately undermine”
“This action ordered by Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to deliberately undermine ongoing American diplomatic negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program,” Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said on X.
Dem Sen. Andy Kim:
“This action ordered by Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to deliberately undermine ongoing American diplomatic negotiations… This decision by Netanyahu to go against American efforts and go alone in strikes puts American and Israeli lives on the line.” pic.twitter.com/WbkFyoMGon
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 13, 2025
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut agreed.
My full statement:
Israel’s attack on Iran, clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration’s negotiations with Iran, risks a regional war that will likely be catastrophic for America and is further evidence of how little respect world powers – including our own allies -…
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 13, 2025
“This is a disaster of Trump and Netanyahu’s own making, and now the region risks spiraling toward a new, deadly conflict,” he warned on X.
Israel’s attack on Iran, clearly intended to scuttle the Trump Administration’s negotiations with Tehran, is further evidence of how little respect world powers – including our own allies – have for President Trump.
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 13, 2025
He also took a political jab at the US president, insisting that Israel’s decision to attack “is further evidence of how little respect world powers — including our own allies — have for President Trump.”
Different tone
Republican senators responded as well, but with a very different tone.
Tom Cotton of Arkasas alleged on X that “Iran is the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, has the blood of thousands of Americans on its hands, and is rushing to build not only nuclear weapons, but also missiles that can strike the United States.”
