Trump shifts from opposing foreign wars to threatening war in Iran

Senior Democrats expressed concern after a classified briefing involving Marco Rubio about possible US military action in Iran, and House Democrats said they will force a vote next week to summon the president to explain his plans.

Senior Democrats left a classified briefing involving Marco Rubio and voiced concern about a possible US military action in Iran. The discussion reflected unease about opaque decision-making around the president and how he might decide on large-scale force. Public rationales offered by the administration have shifted from criticizing Iran’s treatment of protesters to citing its nuclear programme and missile development. House Democrats have announced they will force a congressional vote next week to summon the president to explain his plans for Iran. Key developments: - Senior Democrats warned after the classified briefing that decision-making around the president is opaque and that significant choices about Iran could be forthcoming. - House Democrats said they will force a vote next week to summon the president to Congress to explain his plans for Iran and to record members’ positions on any military action. - The administration has presented changing justifications for possible strikes — from protesters to nuclear and missile concerns — and has assembled a force described in the article as the largest since 2003; some administration claims about missile timelines have not been publicly evidenced. Summary: The developments have prompted a push for congressional oversight and increased public scrutiny of the administration’s rationale for possible military action. A vote to summon the president is scheduled for next week, and the outcome as well as whether any military steps will follow are undetermined at this time.