WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito stands in support of President Donald Trump’s decision to use military action against Iran, days after Trump launched attacks that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and led to retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
Capito believes the president made the right choice after Iran allegedly continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons and build its stockpile of ballistic missiles.
“The president has given the Iranian regime countless opportunities to stand down and negotiate—to ask them to stop killing their own people and, importantly, abandon their nuclear ambitions, but instead of choosing a peaceful path, Iran has doubled down on weapons designed to threaten the American people and our allies and our assets,” she said on Tuesday.
The senator’s concern for what an unchecked Iran could do extends past just official actions taken by the nation’s government. Alleged Iranian support for terror groups around the region is another reason for action in her eyes.
“The Iranian regime powers the Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, all of the terrorist groups that have been wreaking havoc on the region for years,” she said.
Critics of military action against Iran question Trump’s authority to strike with such force without seeking congressional approval. Capito said the president is within his office’s rights, and she does not support a potential war powers vote being pushed by Democrats.
“I think what you’re seeing that we’re being asked to vote on, either today or tomorrow, is a war powers resolution of disapproval that would actually tie the president’s hands. It would have all of our military, and any kind of aggressive actions would cease,” she said.
As Capito spoke on Tuesday, the death toll for American service members as a result of the action against Iran stood at six. She said she expects West Virginians serving in the Middle East to be prepared and protected.
“They’re well-trained. They’re going to be protected to the utmost. That is certainly my priority and the President’s priority, and I think that our military, because they are in service to our country, not just realize the risks but are proud of the service that they do for our country,” she said.