Early on the morning of Feb. 28, the United States and Israel conducted a joint military operation in Iran that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside many other regime leadership targets, and destroyed military sites.

American involvement appears to have been focused on destroying Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, whereas the strikes decapitating the regime were conducted by Israel.

Regime change in Iran is good for the Iranian people and the world. I have no moral or geopolitical concerns about U.S. involvement in pushing the country toward revolution against Iran's oppressive leadership. 

However, American military action against Iran should have been authorized by Congress. This was an act of war, and it is Congress’ job to declare war. Not the president.

Regime change in Iran is a net positive for the region

The Iranian regime oppresses its own people through arbitrary arrests, arbitrary public executions, curbed freedom of expression, torture, inhuman treatment of prisoners, censorship and crimes against children. 

The Iranian people have been trending toward revolt for months. Widespread and intense protests have consumed the country since the new year. The regime has killed at least 6,800 protesters in crackdowns, with an additional 11,000 cases under investigation.

As many as 40,000 Iranians have been detained and subjected to vile treatment. 

Not only is it morally good for Iran’s regime to be eliminated, but it is also in America’s interest. Iran is one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism in the world, funding organizations that have killed Americans for decades and pose a persistent threat to our security.

Further, their aiding and abetting of terror groups has further destabilized the region. Their support for the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel has plunged the region into chaos in recent years, and led to a full-fledged conflict in Gaza and with Israel. 

The Iranian regime has long been an existential threat to the United States and our allies, and it is good for our country for regime change to take place if it is successful. 

Congress should have authorized US strikes on Iran

The Iranian regime has never been weaker. Iranian air defenses had been seriously weakened during the 2025 military interventions by the American and Israelis strikes against their nuclear program, leaving a limited window for them to remain susceptible before those are built back up. Combined with the civil unrest against the regime, there was no better time to strike. 

American leaders viewed this as a limited opportunity to overthrow the regime, and they were right. However, the Constitution does not require perfect timing. Congress needs to be consulted before the president goes to war. The president has inherent power to respond to imminent threats, such as looming attacks on America, but he does not have the authority to declare war on his own. 

In this case, the eight congressional leaders who are required to be briefed on classified matters were briefed prior to the strikes, but that is not enough. Congress must vote to authorize acts of war prior to their taking place.

I supported the strikes against Iran’s nuclear program last year. The recent military action was not in response to the same level of imminent threat as those strikes. In that case, Iran was extremely close to possessing a nuclear weapon, which would pose a direct threat to the United States. 

As happy as I am at the prospect of the Iranian people receiving new leadership and the regional stability that could come from a new regime in Iran, I remain concerned at the recent expansion of presidential war powers. Congress has been completely unwilling to reassert itself to this point. 

Democrats and some Republicans are eager to force a war powers vote in the coming days. These resolutions will be aimed at curbing the president’s authority to act militarily in Iran. Republicans should kill this resolution, but the president should still be made to ask Congress for authority on this matter. Congress should approve that request, but the president must get permission, no matter how warranted the attacks are.

Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.

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