Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday reiterated comments from President Donald Trump that a more intense offensive in the war with Iran was still to come. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now.," Rubio said before entering a briefing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the first of a series of meetings between administration officials and members of Congress this week. Rubio told reporters "there absolutely was an imminent threat," from Iran. Immediately after the attacks, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, bipartisan lawmakers called for briefings on the military action. Democrats, in particular, questioned the legality of the strikes, which were carried out without authorization from Congress.

Source: CNN March 02, 2026 18:43 UTC