I've been in touch with the White House. We want to see this conflict end, but inclusive of that is getting the enriched uranium out. That is vital to the president and to me as chair of the Middle East subcommittee. Getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened and eliminating the threat posed by Iran is the focal point.

It takes time because you are not dealing in real time with the leadership. The largest part is the enriched uranium.

The military operation accomplished a great deal: diminishing ballistic missiles, drone capabilities, and severely decimating their naval fleet. The outstanding issue is the enriched uranium. Barring sending troops in, this is a negotiation. If you can maintain a ceasefire and use diplomacy, that is preferable.

The blockade has created immense economic pressure on Iran. They are losing billions upon billions of dollars, bordering on trillions, because they cannot move oil and lack storage capacity. 90% of Iran's oil sales go to China, so this pressure has forced the regime to negotiate.

There were attendance issues. We've had multiple votes on war powers and it has failed. Congress has taken action. We disagree with Democrats who continue to push this. We are in the middle of a negotiation, and passing a war powers resolution calling for immediate withdrawal only serves to bolster Iran, not the United States.

The kinetic activity has stopped. The administration has taken defensive measures. This war powers resolution is nothing but politics and does not help address the fundamental issue of ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.

Of course he cares about the midterms. What he is talking about is in the context of the war and negotiations. He is not going to be pressured into a bad deal because of the politics of the moment. He wants to make sure Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon.

I am not concerned about the politics of a righteous decision. It is a righteous decision to ensure Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon. I care more about the long-term stability and safety of the American people than a single election.