Iowa Lawmakers and Candidates Offer Divided Reactions on Iran Strikes

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. DES MOINES — Iowa's congressional delegation, statewide officials and candidates for federal office offered divided reactions after the United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran over the weekend, with President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to "seize control of your destiny." Several Republican officeholders praised the operation, known as Operation Epic Fury, and voiced support for Trump's actions. Gov. Kim Reynolds said on X that the United States had confirmed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, calling it the end of his "reign of terror." She credited Trump with taking "decisive action to defend the United States and eliminate evil" and asked for prayers for U.S. troops. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Trump, "through Operation Epic Fury, is working to take out the threat of Iran to create a more peaceful world." Sen. Chuck Grassley said he was closely following developments in Iran and the region and praying for the safety of U.S. troops. Grassley added that "regime change" is "badly needed" and that Iran must stop nuclear enrichment, saying there cannot be "unpredictable leadership in Iran w nuclear bomb." He also said Trump gave Iran "plenty of negotiable opportunity." U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said the operation was aimed at protecting American interests from what she described as a "tyrannical Iranian regime" that has backed terrorism and threatened the United States and its allies, including Israel. She said the action makes clear Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon and offered prayers for service members and their families. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn called the operation a direct consequence of Iran's actions, including attacks on Americans and allies and pursuit of nuclear weapons. Nunn, a combat veteran, said he does not support "boots on the ground" and does not take military action lightly, adding that he is praying for U.S. service members and allies in the region. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra said the administration had spent weeks calling for a diplomatic end to Iran's nuclear ambitions and that the operation works to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He said he is praying for the safety of U.S. service members and Iowa National Guard troops deployed in the region. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said that with the reported death of the ayatollah, "that reign of terror has come to an end," but cautioned that the United States cannot "rush blindly into another endless conflict." She said her immediate focus is the safety of U.S. service members and Americans in the region and that she looks forward to a full briefing on next steps. Democratic and independent candidates for federal office emphasized concerns about congressional authorization and the risk of a prolonged conflict. In a statment, State Sen. Zach Wahls called on Congress to "immediately invoke the War Powers Act" to prevent the country from being drawn into what he described as another war of regime change. Wahls said his generation grew up with the consequences of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and warned against repeating those mistakes in Iran without congressional authorization or a clear exit strategy. He said he and his wife are praying for the safety of U.S. service members. State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, addressed the strikes during a legislative forum Saturday in Council Bluffs. Turek said his thoughts and prayers are with U.S. troops and that he does not want Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, but also warned against "forever wars and forever conflicts." After the forum, Turek said that if U.S. troops are put in harm's way, military action should have congressional approval. He noted that he previously sponsored bipartisan legislation in the Iowa House to prevent Iowa National Guard troops from being sent to foreign conflicts without congressional authorization. At the same forum, Republican state Sen. Dan Dawson said he contacted his brother, who is deployed with the Iowa National Guard, after hearing news of the strikes. He urged Iowans to pray for Guardsmen serving overseas. Former Iowa House Speaker Brent Siegrist echoed similar sentiments. Dave Bushaw, an independent candidate running in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, criticized the strikes as part of what he called "illegal regime change wars." In a statement, Bushaw said even one American life lost is too many and referenced recent deaths of U.S. service members. He said Congress should immediately pass a War Powers resolution and argued taxpayer dollars should be directed toward domestic priorities rather than overseas conflicts. The strikes represent a significant escalation in tensions with Iran and have prompted renewed debate in Iowa and nationwide over the president's war powers and the potential for a broader conflict in the region. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.