John Thune

And, you know, we'll give them a chance.

Like I said, they'll have that opportunity to vote one way or the other on this.

But I would be very, very surprised.

This is an attempt again to try to derail or step on the president's messaging around that and create a political issue where there really isn't one.

What the president is doing in Iran is something that frankly should have been done probably arguably a long time ago.

I think the President has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities, the operations that are currently underway there.

And as you know, there's a lot of controversy around, questions around the War Powers Act, but I think the President is acting in the best interest of the nation and our national security interests by ensuring that he's protecting Americans and American bases and installations in that region, as well as those of our allies.

Thune says the president has broad authorities under Article II of the Constitution when it comes to defending America's national security interests.

However, Democrats and other critics of the war say the president should have consulted Congress, not just notified them of the plans.

Thune is countering those arguments, saying the effort will eliminate a threat that could have cost countless numbers of Americans' lives.

The senator also acknowledged while many questions remain about what comes next, that it's largely up to the Iranian people.

Claudia Rosales, NPR News, the Capitol.

You're listening to NPR News.

I think if people are operating in good faith and actually want a solution,

that deal space is there.

I think this can get done.

Democrats are never going to get their full wish list.

That's not the way this works.

Republicans, for example, will not agree to measures that make it impossible for officers, for law enforcement officers to do their jobs.

But Democrats can build on the measures that Republicans have already agreed to if they actually engage in serious negotiations with the White House.