World Leaders React to the U.S. Strikes on Iran – The New York Times
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US strikes Iran live updates: US dropped 14 massive bunker busters in biggest B-2 bomber strike ever
President Trump has ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. The move comes just days after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The strikes are in response to Iran’s nuclear program.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump announced on Truth Social just before 8 p.m. ET, 3:30 a.m. Iran time.
The president’s move to get the US involved in Israel’s military operations — now in their second week after large-scale airstrikes on June 13 took out 20 of Iran’s senior military leaders — comes just days after Iran warned that a US strike would trigger an “all-out war.”
Follow The Post’s live updates on the US’ attack on Iran for the latest news, photos, reactions and more:
June 21, 2025 – Israel-Iran conflict
Law enforcement agencies around the US are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East. The US launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, tracking intelligence for any potential threats to the homeland. Police departments in New York City and Washington, DC, said they are sharing intelligence with their federal partners. They are increasing or maintaining a heightened level of police resources around religious institutions.
The Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal, state and local agencies are watching for any response from Iran or others against the US, a federal official familiar with the coordination told CNN.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a social media post Saturday night, “We will work unceasingly to protect the American homeland.”
Police departments in New York City and Washington, DC, said they are sharing intelligence with their federal partners and are increasing or maintaining a heightened level of police resources around religious institutions.
The DC Police Department said in a statement that there is no known threat to the nation’s capital, but it is working to “safeguard residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia.”
Security postures around several key areas in the US capital, including the White House, Pentagon and Israeli Embassy, have increased since the conflict between Israel and Iran began earlier this month. Officials told CNN those increases are part of a normal security protocol activated when any conflict of this size begins.
The New York City Police Department said in a statement, “Out of an abundance of caution, we’re deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners.”
Before the US launched the attacks, law enforcement officials told CNN that while there was no uptick in the already heightened threat posed against the US by Iran, that story could quickly change.
Congressional leaders react to Trump ordering attack on Iran
Congressional leaders expressed surprise Saturday night about President Donald Trump’s announcement he had ordered a U.S. attacked on three Iranian nuclear sites. Some Republicans praised the move and some Democrats questioned the president’s authority. Sen. Lindsey Graham, an Iran hawk, said in an X post moments after Trump announced the attack that it was “the right call” House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, according to a source familiar with the matter. “This is not Constitutional,” GOP Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky posted. “We need to immediately return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said on X. “The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. “To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud.”
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an Iran hawk, said in an X post moments after Trump announced the attack that it was “the right call.”
“The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump,” he said. “To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud.”
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images – PHOTO: President Donald Trump points to the new flag on the south lawn of the White House on June 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
MORE: Israel-Iran live updates
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But the top Democrat in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, said Trump had “misled the country.”
“Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has failed to deliver on that promise. The risk of war has now dramatically increased, and I pray for the safety of our troops in the region who have been put in harm’s way,” he said in a statement.
“President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,” he continued.
“First, the Trump administration bears the heavy burden of explaining to the American people why this military action was undertaken. Second, Congress must be fully and immediately briefed in a classified setting. Third, Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action,” he added.
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Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was on stage at one of his “Fight Oligarchy” events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he read a portion of President Trump’s post about the strikes to an audience that immediately began booing.
“Not only is this news this that I’ve heard this second alarming — all of you have just heard. But it is so grossly unconstitutional. All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. the president does not have the right,” he added.
Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he was in touch with the White House before the attack and still monitoring the situation.
“As I have said multiple times recently, I regret that Iran has brought the world to this point. That said, I am thankful President Trump understood that the red line — articulated by Presidents of both parties for decades — was real,” he said.
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At least one Republican in the House, however, questioned the president’s action without congressional authorization.
“This is not Constitutional,” GOP Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky posted.
MORE: US hits 3 Iranian nuclear sites, Trump says, plunging America into conflict
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, posted on X, “According to the Constitution we are both sworn to defend, my attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop.”
“We need to immediately return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said in an X post.
Evan Vucci/AP – PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to the press outside the White House in Washington, June 9, 2025.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, according to a source familiar with the matter.
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Johnson was supposed to be in Israel Sunday to address the Knesset, but the trip was scrapped because of the ongoing conflict.
The speaker also put out a statement endorsing the strikes, calling it a “decisive” action that prevents terrorism.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was also briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran, according to two sources familiar with the conversation.
GOP Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming posted, “President @realDonaldTrump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear program is the right one. The greatest threat to the safety of the United States and the world is Iran with a nuclear weapon. God Bless our troops 🇺🇸”
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Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn posted, “President Trump made the courageous and correct decision to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. God Bless the USA. Thank you to our extraordinary military and our indomitable @POTUS This is what leadership on the world stage looks like.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said on X, “As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS. Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in the world. 🇺🇸”
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York posted that President Trump’s strike on Iran constitutes “ground for impeachment,” saying he was “in grave violation of the Constitution” without first receiving congressional authorization.
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment,” she posted.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to note that Rep. Rick Crawford is from Arkansas and said he was in touch with the White House, not the president, before the sttack.