Mass. all-Democrat congressional delegation say Trump's decision to strike Iran was 'unconstitutional'

Massachusetts' all-Democrat congressional delegation is condemning President Trump's decision to launch airstrikes on Iran without approval from Congress.

On Saturday evening, the administration announced it had "obliterated" Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities. However, experts say the level of damage is yet to be determined.

Gov. Maura Healey, who was briefed by the Trump administration, said in a statement that there are "no specific threats" to Massachusetts currently.

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey called the strikes unconstitutional, because they were not approved by Congress, and criticized the idea of U.S. involvement in a Middle East war.

Warren, in a social media post over the weekend, called on her colleagues to "vote immediately to prevent another endless war."

Markey said, in a statement Saturday night, he believes the action "may set back," but will not stop Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.

"The regime can rebuild its program and will now be highly motivated to do so," he said. "A diplomatic solution remains the best way to permanently and verifiably prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon."

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, echoed Markey's sentiment. In a social media post, she called Trump's unilateral decision "unauthorized and unconstitutional."

In an interview with WBUR's Morning Edition on Monday, Congressman Jake Auchincloss said he was tentatively optimistic that the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites could bring Iran to the negotiating table. But, he argued, the bombings should spur Congress to shrink the president's war powers.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, in a social media post, called on Congress to assert its Constitutional authority to decide "matters of war."

In a post on X, Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale commended Trump for "making the tough decision to use military force" in Iran.

She claimed the country's nuclear program flourished because of deals John Kerry made while serving as secretary of state during the Obama administration. The U.S. and five other countries signed an agreement in 2015 to curb Iran's nuclear program. Three years later, Trump, during his first term as president, pulled the U.S. out of that agreement. Until very recently, Trump had been working on finding a diplomatic resolution with Iran over its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

WBUR's Hanna Ali contributed to this report.