NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe asks Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., about Congressional authorization for the U.S. strikes on Iran.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
Sunday started with a brand new wave of strikes on Iran. President Trump says the bombing will proceed by this week. The Israeli air power in the present day is focusing on Iran’s capital and says it is seeking to, quote, “pave the trail to Tehran.” In the meantime, the controversy continues right here in Washington concerning the justification for the navy marketing campaign. We’re joined now by Jim Himes. He is a Democrat representing Connecticut within the U.S. Home. Congressman, welcome.
JIM HIMES: Thanks for having me.
RASCOE: So there’s been some confusion about how a lot Congress knew concerning the strikes towards Iran. As a rating member on the Home Intelligence Committee, you are close to the highest of the checklist for labeled briefings. How a lot do you know about all this earlier than the missiles have been launched?
HIMES: Yeah. Effectively, as a member of the Gang of Eight – and, after all, there are eight of us – I in all probability knew greater than just about the remainder of the Congress. I’ll let you know that final Tuesday, there was a briefing by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, for the Gang of Eight, and we have been advised that no choice had been taken to truly transfer forward with the assault however that it was, you understand, effectively alongside in its planning. After which on the eve of the assault, the secretary of state reached out to these Gang of Eight members to allow them to know that it was going ahead.
In order that was the notification was – that was completed. Now, from a constitutional standpoint, clearly, anybody who reads the Structure is aware of that this form of factor ought to truly be voted on and licensed by the Congress. In order that’s higher than the alerts that we obtained previous to the Venezuela mission however nonetheless not what the Structure calls for.
RASCOE: Will there be a vote on a Battle Powers Decision, and if that’s the case, how will you vote?
HIMES: Yeah. The intent of the Democratic minority is to make use of a privileged maneuver to name ahead a Battle Powers Decision, which might require the withdrawal or the cessation of hostilities towards Iran till there’s a authorization given by the Congress. Once more, that is what’s per the – no matter you consider the Iranian regime or the motion taken thus far, that is what the Structure calls for. And so, sure, there shall be such a vote, and I’ll vote in favor of stopping hostilities or pausing them till the Congress authorizes this navy exercise.
RASCOE: However now that the assaults have occurred, like, can the genie be put again within the bottle? Like, mainly, you understand, that concept – you break it, you purchase it. Like, are you able to cease the hostilities, even for a second, now that this has been put into movement?
HIMES: Effectively, you could possibly. I imply, clearly, the – as you place it, the genie’s been let loose of the bottle. I imply, apparently, the supreme chief has been killed. Different senior regime officers have been killed. So clearly, we’re not reversing the tape on that. However no, after all. And once more, the legislation would require that hostilities stop till the Congress can debate and approve this in some type or one other. Now, you understand, the bigger query – I do not truly assume that – No. 1, that…
RASCOE: Effectively, how lengthy do you assume that will take? Like, in the event you did – if that was handed, if he was constrained, how lengthy do you assume it could take the Congress to approve, you understand, actions towards Iran?
HIMES: Effectively, as a sensible matter, I believe that when the Democrats transfer this Battle Powers Decision, the Republican majority could be very, very more likely to desk it. In order a sensible matter, I believe this goes away in a short time. And naturally, then we’re left to battle with a way more difficult query, which is, the place does this all go? You understand, we are able to bomb Iran together with the Israelis for, you understand, a prolonged time period, however within the service of what? You understand, is the intention regime change? As a result of there aren’t many examples, both of regime change affected by bombing or, fairly frankly, of American navy forces truly doing regime change in a manner that’s, you understand, passable. I level to Afghanistan. I level to Iraq. I level to Libya. Once we break a regime, very often, it is changed by one thing worse or by chaos.
RASCOE: What concerning the argument that Iran has been a supply of instability within the area, on this planet, a sponsor of terrorism and oppressive to its folks, and that at this second of weak spot, this was the time to take motion earlier than they may do extra injury?
HIMES: Effectively, nobody will argue with the premise of your query, which is that this regime was actually a horrible regime. However I do assume it is one thing value – as anyone who represents 750,000 Individuals, it’s definitely worth the debate about each time we resolve {that a} regime is an appalling regime – and there are many them world wide. The Iranians have been form of uniquely terrible, however, you understand, there’s dozens of terrible regimes world wide. And I do assume that Individuals ought to take into consideration whether or not we need to be within the enterprise of being the world’s policeman, as we used to say, particularly with a president who promised us no extra wars.
Now, within the coming weeks, as we see whether or not there may be, in reality, regime change – one thing you is likely to be uncertain about – you understand, Individuals will start to resolve whether or not this enormously costly and dangerous operation was, in reality, value it if it would not truly change the regime, in the identical manner that the regime has truly not been modified in Venezuela.
RASCOE: That is Consultant Jim Himes of Connecticut. Congressman, thanks a lot on your time.
HIMES: Thanks.
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts might differ. Transcript textual content could also be revised to right errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its unique broadcast or publication. The authoritative file of NPR’s programming is the audio file.
