WASHINGTON, March 10 - Democratic members of the U.S. Senate voiced growing unease on Tuesday over the conduct and potential escalation of the conflict with Iran, warning that President Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying American ground forces and urging more detailed, public briefings from the administration.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire told CNN that U.S. national security faces heightened peril because Russia is reportedly sharing intelligence with Iran and that an alignment that includes Russia, China, Iran and North Korea increases risks to the United States. "We know that Russia is already helping with intel, providing that to Iran, and that there’s an axis with Russia and China, Iran and North Korea that puts at greater risk the United States and our national security," she said.
The senators' comments followed a classified briefing by administration officials to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Participants said the closed-door sessions have left them with unresolved questions, particularly about the financial and human costs of the conflict, how long military operations might continue and whether U.S. forces would be committed to combat operations on Iranian soil.
Two sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports have indicated that Russia is supplying Iran with targeting intelligence on U.S. bases and ships. That assertion became a focal point for lawmakers who fear that such assistance could increase the danger to American forces.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, speaking to reporters after the classified briefing, warned that the country appears to be heading toward deploying troops to Iran to meet potential objectives. "We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives here," he said.
Blumenthal also highlighted the potential for escalation linked to foreign assistance to Iran. "Literally, Russia seems to be aiding our enemy actively and intensively with intelligence and perhaps with other means and China also may be assisting Iran," he said. He added that the American public deserves clearer information about the cost of the war, the dangers to U.S. service members and the possibility of a broader escalation.
President Trump has not excluded the option of sending American ground troops into Iran. Republican lawmakers, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, have largely supported his approach to the conflict, with only a few expressing doubts about the campaign.
Lawmakers also awaited a forthcoming administration request for additional war funding. Several congressional aides said they expected the White House to seek $50 billion; other aides cautioned that this estimate may be low. Senators signaled they want more transparent testimony in public hearings to allow both lawmakers and the public to weigh the potential costs and risks.
What lawmakers are asking for
Democrats have called for administration officials to appear before Congress in public to explain the strategy, the likely duration and definitive estimates of the financial and personnel costs associated with military operations related to Iran. They say repeated closed briefings have not provided sufficient detail.
Current status
Lawmakers remain in a period of heightened concern and scrutiny as they await the formal funding request from the White House and push for more transparent congressional oversight.