Arizona Congress members weigh in after Israeli missile strike into Iran

PHOENIX — Hours after an Israeli missile strike targeting nuclear facilities and scientists was launched into Iran, two Arizona members of Congress weighed in on the operation.

The attack, which hit Iran’s capital early Friday (Thursday night in the U.S.), killed least two top military officers, raising the potential for war between the Middle East adversaries.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari — the only Iranian American Democrat in Congress — issued a statement Thursday night saying that de-escalation is “imperative to avoid a catastrophic war.”

“The Islamic Republic must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, and the current brutal regime must be replaced,” Ansari said. “[The] Iranian people, who have suffered for more than four decades at the hands of this regime, deserve democracy and freedom.”

Ansari also says she’s “disheartened” to see diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration fail in the region.

She called President Donald Trump “a failed negotiator who has lost credibility in every region in which he claims to be a peacemaker.”

Ansari said the president cannot use the strikes to justify power grabs, and the priorities must be safeguarding Israeli security and protecting U.S. forces in the region.

What did Rep. Greg Stanton say about Israeli missile strike?

Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton also voiced his support for peace. In a separate statement, Stanton — a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — said he’s in conversation with Israel Bachar, the Israeli consul general, on what intelligence led to the strikes early Friday morning.

“I will continue to push for de-escalation and long-term stability in the region,” Stanton said. “The U.S. must stand firm in support of Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself against existential threats, especially in the face of Iran’s increasing nuclear capabilities.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. had no involvement in the missile strikes.

“Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” Rubio said.

As for Trump, he told reporters on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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