White House Offers No Clarity on Iran War Goals After 11 Days

US Senators Express Concern Over Classified Briefing on Iran War

Several Democratic senators attended a classified briefing on Tuesday about the ongoing war in Iran, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity on President Donald Trump’s justifications and end goals. The briefing was part of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that he emerged from the briefing feeling dissatisfied and angry, citing his 15 years of experience attending similar briefings. He expressed concerns about potential US deployments to Iraq or Iran, as well as the cost of the war.

Senator Elizabeth Warren echoed Blumenthal’s sentiments, stating that the Trump administration cannot explain its reasons for entering the war, its goals, and methods. She also highlighted the high cost of military operations against Iran, which has been estimated at over $5.6 billion in the first two days alone.

Senator Jacky Rosen expressed frustration with the lack of transparency from the Trump administration. “I can tell you what I heard is not just concerning. It is disturbing,” she said. “And I’m not sure what the end game is or what their plans are.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged to conduct a high-intensity day of strikes, stating that the fighting would continue until the enemy was “totally and decisively defeated.” The Trump administration has offered various justifications for launching the war, including concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile programme.

As of Tuesday, the conflict had resulted in at least 1,255 deaths in Iran, 394 in Lebanon, 13 in Israel, six in Iraq, and 14 across the Gulf. The US and Israel launched the war on February 28.

Source: Al Jazeera