Some senators on Tuesday night time seen the initial classified assessment by U.S. Central Command and the Protection Intelligence Company on the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear amenities, a number of aides confirmed.
Members of Senate management and the Senate Intelligence Committee seen the doc in a labeled setting, the aides mentioned.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, seen the doc, as did Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who’s a member of the committee.
Senators didn’t give particulars about what they noticed within the labeled doc.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 25: Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) questions witnesses throughout a Senate Committee on Intelligence listening to “to look at worldwide threats,” in Washington, DC on March 25, 2025.
Anadolu by way of Getty Photos
Senate Majority Chief John Thune mentioned he had “seen some stuff” when requested in regards to the evaluation however didn’t specify what he had seen.
Warner declined to remark to CNN Tuesday night time what was detailed within the preliminary report.
“However I’ve obtained plenty of questions for the administration,” Warner mentioned. “I can let you know there was loads of debate within the open area about whether or not bunker-buster bombs alone might take out Iran’s amenities. We additionally have gotten questions on the place all of Iran’s enriched uranium is positioned at this level and if it is not taken out, what subsequent? Are troops nonetheless in hurt’s approach?”
Warner was requested if he believed the briefing might need been postponed because of the preliminary evaluation, however he mentioned he didn’t know.
Earlier Tuesday, a annoyed Minority Chief Chuck Schumer referred to as the Trump administration’s postponement of Tuesday’s scheduled labeled briefing on the Iran-Israel conflict “outrageous,” “evasive” and “derelict” — and former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to as the postponement of the Home’s briefing “a slap within the face to the Congress of america.”
“There’s a authorized obligation for the administration to tell Congress of what’s taking place. What are they afraid of? Why will not they interact Congress within the important particulars, the results of the current strike, the scope and trajectory of the battle, the administration’s long-term technique to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the potential dangers going through Americans and our service members who all of us have an obligation to guard?” Schumer mentioned whereas addressing reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Schumer mentioned senators deserve transparency.
“This last-minute postponement of our briefing is outrageous, it is evasive, it is derelict. They’re bobbing and weaving and ducking. Senators deserve full transparency,” he mentioned.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters on the Capitol in Washington, June 24, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The Senate’s labeled briefing, which was set to incorporate briefers from the Division of State in addition to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and DNI Tulsi Gabbard, had been postponed to later within the week to permit for different briefers to affix.
Schumer advised, and a GOP management aide confirmed, that these different briefers who’re anticipated to affix the rescheduled assembly on Thursday are Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, who’re at present at the NATO conference . It is unclear whether or not the unique slate of briefers will nonetheless attend Thursday’s briefing.
“I used to be given no rationalization for this delay,” Schumer informed reporters. “They mentioned ‘properly Hegseth and Rubio shall be right here Thursday.’ We’re completely happy to listen to them on Thursday along with this briefing, which we predict shall be much more helpful than listening to from Hegseth and Rubio, who’re secretaries and prime individuals and are superb at political speaking factors. We’d like info; we want actual data.”
Schumer mentioned if Rubio and Hegseth want to deal with members he is completely happy to listen to from them. However he additionally needs to listen to from the unique slate of briefers.
“In the event that they wish to come up on Thursday as well as — not in alternative of this listening to — that’s OK,” Schumer mentioned. “However the obstruction of this administration on an important difficulty like this the place American lives and notably the lives of American service members are at stake, is their obligation and it undermines the very rules of accountability and oversight that safeguard our democracy.”
The delay got here as an early intelligence assessment confirmed the assault didn’t utterly destroy Iran’s nuclear program and certain set it again solely by months, in line with two individuals accustomed to the evaluation.
Whereas the White Home is disputing the evaluation, Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries mentioned that it’s additional justification for a congressional briefing.
“It is one of many explanation why we want each a Gang of Eight briefing instantly and a labeled briefing for all members of the Home of Representatives,” Jeffries mentioned.
Requested on CNN if he believed the briefing might need been postponed due to the preliminary evaluation, Warner mentioned he didn’t know.
Schumer mentioned he has nonetheless not acquired a extra formal briefing from the administration since he acquired a short name informing him of Saturday night time’s strike simply earlier than it occurred. That decision, he mentioned, lacked any particular particulars.
‘Slap within the face’
The Home’s labeled briefing set for Tuesday afternoon was postponed as properly, which prompted a legislative tantrum on the ground Tuesday afternoon, with lawmakers demanding a proof.
Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, tried 4 occasions to hunt a proof from the chair as a part of a “parliamentary inquiry.”
Clarke’s inquisition was dismissed repeatedly by the presiding chair, Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who knowledgeable Clarke that she had not correctly acknowledged a parliamentary inquiry.
The U.S. Capitol constructing is seen as town is on a heightened safety alert, June 23, 2025, in Washington.
Joe Raedle/Getty Photos
After some forwards and backwards, Clarke then knowledgeable DesJarlais that with out a proof for the postponed briefing, she’d provide a movement to adjourn. That pressured the lawmakers to return to the chamber for an sudden vote to defeat the Democratic movement.
Pelosi criticized the postponement of the briefing.
“We should all train our greatest judgement in how we stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon and honor our relationship with Israel within the curiosity of our nationwide safety. However the unjustified cancellation of this briefing by the Trump administration is an insupportable insult to their co-equal department of presidency and the constitutional requirement that the president involves Congress earlier than going to conflict,” the California Democrat mentioned. “The president owes the American individuals a proof on why his administration is conserving them and their representatives at midnight.”
It is not but clear when the Home’s briefing shall be rescheduled.
Massie considers pulling Warfare Powers Decision
When the conferences happen, it is anticipated that lawmakers, particularly Democrats, shall be in search of solutions and proof on the briefings from the administration — particularly why Trump mentioned there was an imminent risk and carried out U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear websites over the weekend.
Their conferences come after a number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill argued the military action was unconstitutional. There are a number of bipartisan resolutions that would obtain a vote in coming days that will put some lawmakers in uncomfortable positions as they contemplate whether or not Trump ignored the position of Congress in putting Tehran.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna introduced a War Powers Resolution last week to rebuke the president’s resolution to launch strikes. As Massie continued to rail towards Trump and his position within the battle, the president lashed out on the Kentucky Republican, saying he was “not MAGA” and threatened to marketing campaign for Massie’s Republican main opponent within the subsequent election.
Massie has now softened his strategy, telling reporters on the Capitol on Monday that he is now contemplating pulling the bipartisan Warfare Powers Decision.
“If the ceasefire holds, and we’re not engaged in hostilities, then it is a moot level. I would not must carry it to the ground,” Massie mentioned.
Massie additionally added that he’s open to patching issues up with the president: “I might like a ceasefire between me and President Trump. If I can get the identical deal, after his bunker busters he dropped on me.”
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters earlier than boarding Marine One on the South Garden of the White Home, June 24, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
Trump on Monday introduced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, after greater than every week of preventing following Israel’s strikes — and subsequent U.S. assaults — on Iran’s nuclear program. Hours after the ceasefire took impact, Israel mentioned Iran violated it — which Iran denies.
Trump expressed anger at each Israel and Iran, accusing each of violating the ceasefire settlement shortly after it started.
“I am not proud of Israel. OK, after I say now you’ve got 12 hours, you do not exit within the first hour and simply drop the whole lot you’ve got on them. So I am not proud of them. I am not proud of Iran both,” Trump mentioned to reporters Tuesday morning.
Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned late Monday that he expects the Home briefing to have a special “tone” within the gentle of the ceasefire.
ABC Information’ Rachel Scott contributed to this report.
