Next phase of Iran war ‘will be even more punishing’: Rubio, Trump officials brief Congress Rubio told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the U.S. military’s next phase of operations against Iran will be “even more punishing” than current efforts. He declined to specify tactical details but emphasized that the “hardest hits are yet to come.” The remarks came during a briefing with Congress, part of a series of meetings between administration officials and lawmakers this week. In addition to Rubio’s session, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine will address Congress on Tuesday. The White House confirmed the schedule, highlighting the administration’s ongoing efforts to brief lawmakers on military actions in Iran. Rubio warned of an “imminent threat” from Iran but did not provide a clear timeline for the conflict, stating the U.S. would continue operations “as long as it takes to achieve” its objectives. He asserted that the world will be “safer” after the mission concludes. Congressional sessions resumed after a break following attacks on Iran, which killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Senate returned late Monday, and the House plans to reconvene on Tuesday. White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson noted that congressional staff had also been briefed, with the Department of War providing over 90 minutes of details to bipartisan national security committees. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the briefings as insufficient, arguing they raised more questions than they answered. Schumer, who attended Rubio’s session, called the information “completely and totally insufficient” and expressed skepticism about the administration’s claims of an imminent threat.#pete_hegseth #ayatollah_ali_khamenei #dan_caine #john_ratcliffe #rubio
