WASHINGTON, D.C. March 1, 2026 – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has sharply criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of using the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon to justify fresh military action despite claiming last June that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “obliterated.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday, Sanders wrote:
“Trump said we had to attack Iran because we can’t allow it ‘to have a nuclear weapon.’ Really?
This is the same president who, in June, said: ‘Iran’s nuclear facilities have been obliterated.’
Vietnam. Iraq. Iran. Another lie. Another war.”
The remarks come as the United States and Israel continue “Operation Epic Fury,” a major military campaign launched over the weekend that has included strikes on Iranian leadership, military sites, ballistic missile infrastructure, and naval forces. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial wave of attacks, according to multiple reports.
Trump has defended the operation as necessary to eliminate an “imminent” nuclear threat and prevent Iran from rebuilding its program. In recent statements, he reiterated that “an Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American” and vowed to continue operations until all objectives are met. The White House has described the strikes as a “precise, overwhelming” response following what it called exhaustive diplomatic efforts.
However, U.S. intelligence assessments cited in media reports indicate that while Iran possessed enriched uranium and could theoretically reach weapons-grade levels quickly, assembling an actual nuclear weapon would still take months to years. Critics, including Sanders, point to the administration’s June 2025 strikes — which Trump hailed at the time as having “completely totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities — as evidence of shifting justifications.
The conflict has already resulted in U.S. casualties, with three American service members reported killed and the president acknowledging that “more could happen.” Iran has launched retaliatory strikes, escalating tensions across the region.
Sanders’ post quickly gained traction, amassing tens of thousands of likes and shares within hours, drawing parallels to past U.S. military interventions in Vietnam and Iraq that were later criticized for relying on flawed or exaggerated intelligence.
As the situation develops, lawmakers and international observers are closely watching whether Congress will formally authorize further military action and what long-term strategy the administration has for post-strike Iran.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments in this rapidly evolving story.
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