WASHINGTON (BP) — Saying now is the time for peace, President Donald Trump announced through social media a “very successful attack” on three nuclear weapons sites in Iran on Saturday night (June 21). Trump’s announcement of American action came 10 days after Israel began missile attacks to drive back Iran’s production of nuclear weapons.
The president said all American forces were out of harm’s way when he released the statement.
Trump had issued a 60-day notice for Iran in early April, according to Reuters. Israel began missile strikes June 13, the day Trump deemed day 61, according to the report.
While some lawmakers challenged Trump’s authority to strike Iran, many took to social media to support the action.
“The President made the right call, and did what he needed to do,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on X.
Johnson, a former Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) board member, said, “Leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency of this situation and the Commander-in-Chief evaluated that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act. The world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, which chants ‘Death to America,’ simply could not be allowed the opportunity to obtain and use nuclear weapons.”
Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford called for prayers for peace in a post on X: “I continue to be grateful for the skill and professionalism of our United States service members. Cindy and I are praying for our military, the President and for a lasting peace.”
Lankford, R-Okla., was involved in a panel discussion June 9 sponsored the ERLC during the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting on how Southern Baptists can be involved in the public square.
On June 20, Lankford posted: “Iran has attacked the US more than 40 times since 1979. We cannot allow this regime to continue its attacks against Americans, and it can never develop a nuclear weapon — that said, we do not want war with Iran. We want peace through strength.”
Southern Baptist leaders responded to the June 21 bombing operation.
“Iran’s extremist regime having the ability to threaten nuclear war was an unacceptable risk for humanity. We should be praying for the safety of our service members in the region this evening,” ERLC President Brent Leatherwood posted on X.
“May peace prevail in the Middle East,” he wrote.
Churches across the Southern Baptist Convention prayed for peace during their Sunday morning worship services.
SBC President Clint Pressley told Baptist Press, “I’m thankful for President Trump’s resolve and praying the Lord will grant him great wisdom in the days ahead.”
Pressley encouraged Southern Baptists to join in “praying there will soon be peace in the Middle East.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Porter serves as vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee.)
