Latest news with #JoshGottheimer
New York Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
US ready to arm Israel with bunker-busting bombs if Iran goes nuclear
The US is preparing to authorize giving Israel B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound, 20-foot-long 'bunker buster' bombs if Iran resumes its nuclear weapons program, under a new bill proposed by a bipartisan pair of lawmakers. The Bunker Buster Act would allow President Trump to 'take actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon,' according to Reps. Josh Gottheimer, (D-NJ), and Mike Lawler, (R-NY), who proposed the legislation. 'Iran, the leading state sponsor of terror, and one of America's top enemies, can never have a nuclear weapon. That's why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month,' Gottheimer said in a statement. Advertisement 'Iran has killed scores of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend herself against Iran, and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities,' he added. 6 The US is ready to supply Israel with B-2 bombers if Iran restarts its nuclear program. US Air Force 'This bill gives the President the authority to equip Israel with the tools and training they need to deter Tehran and make the world a safer place,' Lawler said. Advertisement B-2 bomber pilots were deployed last month in a historic attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, launching 14 GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, better known as bunker-buster bombs, onto three separate sites in the country. The US 'totally obliterated' the Iranian regime's nuclear program, President Trump claimed, after the bombs penetrated up to 200 feet below the surface into the underground facilities. 6 Rep. Josh Gottheimer is one of two proponents of the bipartisan bill. Getty Images 6 Rep. Mike Lawler also proposed the Bunker Buster Act. REUTERS Advertisement Israel also took part in the strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The US had 19 B-2s in operation as of last year, and has not allowed any of its allies to use the stealth bombers. It's the only plane capable of delivering the massive payload. 6 US strikes targeted three nuclear sites in Iran last month. Rob Jejenich / NY Post Design Centrifuges at Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordow are 'no longer operational' following last month's US strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Chair Rafael Grossi told Radio France Internationale this week. Advertisement However, there are rumors Iran may have moved its stock of enriched uranium away from the targeted sites ahead of the bombing, which administration officials have vehemently denied. 6 Bunker-busting bombs travel up to 200 feet below the ground. Department of Defense 6 Iran's main uranium enrichment site in Fordow was attacked. via REUTERS Iran may begin enriching uranium again within a 'matter of months,' Grossi told CBS last week. 'The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,' Grossi said. 'It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it's not total damage. Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again,' he added.
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump could arm Israel with US B-2s and bunker busters if Iran tries to go nuclear under new proposal
FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan pair of lawmakers has proposed authorizing President Donald Trump to transfer B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bombs to Israel if Iran is found to still be developing a nuclear weapon after last week's strikes. The legislation, proposed by Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced the Bunker Buster Act, which would allow Trump to "take actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon." B-2 bomber pilots launched 14 bunker buster bombs on Iran's top three nuclear sites, in a move that Trump claims "totally obliterated" the Iranian regime's nuclear program. Israel, for its part, hit a number of Iranian sites and took out top military brass. However, it doesn't possess the 30,000-pound GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, precision-guided munition bombs developed for the U.S. Air Force. The 20-foot-long weapons can travel 200 feet deep inside a target before exploding. As of 2024, the U.S. had 19 B-2s in operation. It does not transfer custody of its B-2 stealth bombers to any of its allies. "Iran, the leading state sponsor of terror, and one of America's top enemies, can never have a nuclear weapon. That's why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month. Iran has killed scores of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend herself against Iran, and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities," Gottheimer said in a statement. "This bill gives the President the authority to equip Israel with the tools and training they need to deter Tehran and make the world a safer place," said Lawler. The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Chair Rafael Grossi told Radio France Internationale the centrifuges at Iran's underground Fordow nuclear site are "no longer operational," after the U.S. strikes. However, some have questioned whether Iran may have attempted to move its stock of enriched uranium away from the sites that were targeted, but Grossi told CBS over the weekend that Iran may again begin enriching uranium in a "matter of months." "The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there," he said. "It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it's not total damage," Grossi added. "Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." Meanwhile, after a Houthi strike on Israel, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggested the U.S. send B-2 bombers to Yemen to strike Houthi targets. "We thought we were done with missiles coming to Israel, but Houthis just lit one up over us in Israel. Fortunately, Israel's incredible interception system means we go to the shelter & wait until all clear. Maybe those B2 bombers need to visit Yemen!" B-2 bomber planes traveled to Yemen to strike Houthi targets in October 2024.
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Democratic lawmaker slams Mamdani, says party should have 'zero patience' for 'intifada' rhetoric
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said Tuesday that the Democratic Party should have no patience for hate speech while criticizing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his socialist policies and refusing to condemn the "globalize the intifada" phrase. "I am completely confused by how people go ahead with a lot of the ideas that he's put forth. And if you saw this weekend when he was asked to condemn 'globalize the intifada,' right, and he refused, which is a call for a wave of terror against Jewish people around the world, and he refused to condemn that language," Gotthemier said during an interview on CNN. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist candidate who just defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral primary, repeatedly refused to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" during an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker on Sunday. "As far as I'm concerned, somebody who refuses to condemn hate speech is not acceptable. And I'm looking for him to clarify that, as well as his other socialist policies. So, you know, there's got to be a lot of clarification before I start to warm up to the idea of him being mayor," the Jewish lawmaker continued. CNN host John Berman noted that Mamdani did say it wasn't language he used. The NYC mayoral candidate also said he wanted to be careful not to "police speech" during the NBC interview. "But why wouldn't he just outright condemn the language? Why would you not condemn antisemitic language? You saw what happened in Washington and Boulder, Colorado, and the surge of hate around the country. Why would you not condemn hate speech? You know, and that's not something that should be confusing," Gottheimer pushed back. The Democratic lawmaker said condemning hate speech shouldn't be confusing with regard to any group, including Muslims and African Americans. "I don't understand where any confusion is there. And I'm expecting him, I hope, to clarify his position. But listen, I believe the Democratic Party needs to move in the direction of common sense and reasonableness of affordability. And I think that's where we should be going and have zero patience for any kind of hate speech," he added. Other Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Hakeem Jeffries, have come out and called on Mamdani to clarify his stance on the phrase, which is interpreted as a call to violence against Jewish people. Members of the press called out Mamdani as well, including podcast host Donny Deutsch, who said he was "outraged" on Monday that the NYC mayoral candidate wouldn't condemn the phrase. "I'm outraged that we have a candidate for mayor of New York, Mr. Mamdani, that cannot walk back or cannot condemn the words 'globalize the intifada' and his nuance of, 'well, it means different things for different people.' Well, let me tell you what it means to a Jew — it means violence," Deutsch said. "If any other group came forward and said 'you know these words are offensive to us, it means violence, it frightens us,' I think there would be a response. But for some reason, if Jewish people find it offensive, it's not offensive."
CNN
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Rep. Josh Gottheimer: Americans don't like Trump's big policy bill
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer what he's hoping to learn about the US strikes on Iran and weighs in on Trump's big policy bill as it faces a major setback in the Senate.
CNN
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Rep. Josh Gottheimer: Americans don't like Trump's big policy bill
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer what he's hoping to learn about the US strikes on Iran and weighs in on Trump's big policy bill as it faces a major setback in the Senate.
