Virginia leaders react to U.S. bombing three nuclear sites in Iran, entering war

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia lawmakers on both sides are either showing their concern or their support after President Donald Trump announced the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, entering war.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. 

This news comes just two days after the White House said Trump would decide whether to get involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel “in the next two weeks” to give a window for negotiations.

US bombs three Iran nuclear sites, entering war

However, time began moving more quickly than Americans anticipated, as Trump announced that the U.S. had directly joined Israel's effort to dismantle the country's nuclear program at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump added. “Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

As close U.S. allies urged a return to the negotiating table in the wake of American strikes on Iran. some leaders, including those that support Iran, condemned the move, while some showed their support for the decision.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted a brief statement on X just after it happened on 8:40 p.m. Saturday.

"President Donald J. Trump meant what he has said over and over again: Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Promises made, promises kept."

Sen. Tim Kaine emphasized that much of the American public is opposed to the war on Iran.

Per Axios, 60% of 1,512 polled Americans think the U.S. military should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to an Economist/YouGov poll released this week.

The Latest: US inserts itself into Israel-Iran war and strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites

"The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back 'at least 2 or 3 years,'" he said. "So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment. I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war."

Israeli strikes began on June 13, according to the Associated Press, with several top military officials and nuclear scientists dying due to targeting the Iranian military.

In a detailed statement posted on X shortly before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sen. Mark Warner said that Trump has dragged the United States after what Trump previously called a promise to end the endless foreign wars, saying that this unexpected decision was done "without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, without regard to the consistent conclusions of the intelligence community, and without explaining to the American people what's at stake."

With an emphasis on Iran posing a threat to regional stability, Warner continued, saying, "The American people deserve more than vague rhetoric and unilateral decisions that could set off a wider war. The president must come before Congress immediately to articulate clear strategic objectives and lay out how he plans to protect American lives and ensure we are not once again drawn into a costly, unnecessary, and avoidable conflict."

Nations react to US strikes on Iran with many calling for diplomacy

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) also posted on social media at around 7 a.m. Sunday, supporting Trump's decision and expressing her pride in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"God bless the brave military men and women who changed history," she wrote. "We cannot under any circumstances tolerate a nuclear Iran, and President Trump’s decisive action to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites ensures that. This is what peace through strength in action looks like… I support this decision and couldn’t be prouder of our American armed forces."

During a news briefing on Sunday, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, said that even though “final battle damage will take some time,” an early assessment showed that the three nuclear sites had been heavily damaged, the Associated Press reported.

In a social post at around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) similarly showed his support for the movie, calling it "the right decision."

"The President was right - Iran refused to commit to nuclear disarmament. This was the right decision. America must secure peace through strength. God bless our servicemen and women in uniform - I am praying for their safe return."

Satellite photos show impact of bombing at Iran nuclear site

Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement regarding Trump's unilateral military action against Iran:

“The President has attacked another nation without congressional authorization. There was no apparent imminent Iranian threat against the United States. Furthermore, the President’s own Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress earlier this year that the U.S. intelligence community assessed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.

Our nation cannot again go to war with faulty intelligence. We saw what happened in Iraq in 2003, which dragged the United States into a protracted war in the Middle East for eight years. That is why it is imperative that we pass the War Powers Resolution, authored by Senator Tim Kaine in the Senate and Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna in the House, to terminate any ongoing military action by the United States against Iran unless authorized by Congress.

I remain hopeful for a diplomatic solution. Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. However, we had reached a diplomatic solution to guard against Iran developing a nuclear weapon when President Obama successfully negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 between Iran, the United States and the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This agreement was broadly supported by the international community and Iran was complying until President Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in 2018. We would not be in this mess now if the President had not withdrawn from that agreement.” Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott

Meanwhile, Israel is still adamant about annihilating the Hamas militant group, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, per the Associated Press.

Stay with 8News for updates as more statements become available. New information will be provided when possible.