Sen. Reed on Trump's Iran strategy: 'I don't believe the president has a plan'

Source: ABC News

May 3, 2026, 11:14 AM


Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Sunday he believes the U.S. is in a "much worse position" with Iran since the war started, and that he doesn't believe President Donald Trump has a plan to achieve his stated objectives.

"We're in, in many respects, a much worse position," Reed told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "The regime in Tehran is probably more hostile and fanatical than the one that we replaced ... We have not yet resolved the issue of nuclear material in Iran. So this has been a tactical demonstration of prowess, but has not achieved the strategic goal that the president announced, and he seems not to have a plan to achieve those goals."

The U.S. war with Iran has now spanned 10 weeks, and while a ceasefire is ongoing, the two countries have been at a stalemate after peace talks failed April 12. The critical Strait of Hormuz remains closed, sending oil prices skyrocketing globally. The Trump administration has consistently said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a primary objective for going to war. Iran has maintained that they are not seeking nuclear weapons.

Asked by Raddatz about remarks from Reed's colleague Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speculating that there could be additional strikes on Iran, Reed said that it is possible, but that he does not know what the president might do next. "I do have the impression from some of the briefings that I have received, as well as other sources, that an imminent military strike is very much on the table, which is deeply disturbing because it could well involve American sons and daughters in harm's way and potential massive casualties," Blumenthal said on CNN Thursday.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/Politics/sen-reed-trumps-iran-strategy-dont-president-plan/story?id=132606684