Democratic rep: Administration ‘has failed to present a strategy’ in Iran war

Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider (Ill.) on Sunday criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran war , saying officials have not explained their strategy for the conflict.

“We need to explain to the American people what the goals are in trying to prevent, and we have to prevent Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon, but the administration has failed to present a strategy and the actions they’ve taken have not moved us any closer to that goal,” Schneider told host Chris Stirewalt on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

The war — which hit the seven-month mark earlier this week — has marched into October with no sign of a deal to permanently end hostilities, and 19 U.S. service members have died in the Middle East since the start of the conflict, according to the Pentagon.

Rising fuel prices stemming from Iran’s restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have fueled the conflict’s unpopularity among the majority of Americans.

The national average price of a gallon of regular gas is roughly $4.37 as of Sunday, according to data from AAA .

Nearly 7 in 10 respondents to a recent Associated Press/NORC survey said the war has not been worth it for the U.S.

President Trump acknowledged this week the conflict could cost Republicans the November midterms but still reiterated his motive to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon.

“Well, it’s possible. It should help,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “Because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”

“So when you say, ‘Is it OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon?’ I would say 100 percent of the people say no, including worldwide. So, when you say it that way, it would help. If you don’t say that, it could hurt.”

Decision Desk HQ , The Hill’s statistical partner, gives Democrats a 53 percent chance of reclaiming control of both chambers of Congress next month.

Schneider said Sunday that if Democrats win back the Senate and House, party lawmakers will force Trump administration officials to hold classified briefings with them on the war.

“The [House] Oversight Committee, the [House] Judiciary Committee, other committees will bring the people from the administration in for hearings to understand what they have been doing, how they’ve been breaking the law, how they’ve been making life harder for American people,” the Illinois Democrat added, referring to what Democrats will do if they take back the House.