MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Political leaders who represent the Mid-South are responding after President Donald Trump announced the bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran.
On Saturday evening, Trump announced that the United States had completed a “very successful attack” on the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites in Iran. Trump claimed that a “payload of bombs” was dropped on Fordow.
Soon after the announcement, leaders from the Mid-South began releasing statements on the attack. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called the move a “courageous decision to seek peace through strength.”
“@MariaLeeTN and I pray earnestly for the safety of our troops across the Middle East and for the sovereignty of Israel,” Lee posted on X.
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said, “I am looking forward to being, and will be, briefed on this ongoing situation.”
Congressman David Kustoff celebrated the strike, saying in part, “This victory was executed with precision by our great U.S. military.”
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn said that the attack is a “victory for the United States” and that Trump “knows peace can only be achieved through strength.”
Tennessee State Senator London Lamar disagreed with the attack, citing the “lack of congressional authorization at the time of the strike.” Lamar released a lengthy statement on Saturday.
I am deeply alarmed by the U.S. decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan on today. President Trump described the strikes as ‘very successful,’ conducted by B‑2 stealth bombers . While the military objective was to disrupt Iran’s nuclear capabilities, this action marks a dangerous escalation: the United States has now entered a war that was previously between Israel and Iran .
I am profoundly concerned about the lack of congressional authorization at the time of the strike—raising serious constitutional and democratic questions . Beyond the legal issues, this military strike risks triggering a broader regional conflict. Iran is already signaling retaliatory measures, and key international actors have warned that further escalation could be catastrophic.
I urge our leaders to pursue immediate diplomatic channels, work through international institutions, and seek de-escalation to prevent this from spiraling into a full-scale war. Military action should be a last resort—not a first.
Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker supported the decision.
“Our commander-in-chief has made a deliberate —and correct— decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime,” Wicker posted on X. “We now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies and stability for the Middle East.”
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton stated that Iran “has waged a war of terror against the United States for 46 years” and urged that “We could never allow Iran to get nuclear weapons.”
