Rep. Pat Ryan Blasts Sen. John Fetterman Over Support For Potential Military Action In Iran

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Monday after Fetterman signaled openness to possible U.S. military action in Iran during a CNN interview. The exchange highlights widening debate within the Democratic Party over how to respond to Tehran amid deadly crackdowns on protesters.

What Fetterman Said

Asked on CNN News Central by anchor Kate Bolduan whether he wanted the United States to become militarily involved in Iran, Fetterman replied that he would support action if it "made sense." He also said he believed he was the only Democrat who fully supported a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, adding that without such strikes Iran could have acquired a nuclear weapon.

"Sure, absolutely. And now, if it continues to make more sense, absolutely. I think I was the only Democrat that fully supported our strike of their Iranian nuclear facilities last year. And now, by then, without those kinds of strikes, Iran could have acquired a nuclear bomb." — Sen. John Fetterman

Ryan's Reaction

Later in the broadcast, when CNN host John Berman referenced Fetterman's comments, Rep. Pat Ryan reacted angrily. A veteran who served 27 months in combat during the Iraq War, Ryan said the senator's remarks "pissed me off," warning against casual calls for bombing or regime-change campaigns.

"My blood pressure went through the roof when I heard that, because that pisses me off. I mean, to say, 'Sure, sure we're going to bomb another country. Sure, we're going to start a — potentially another regime change war in the Middle East,'" Ryan said. "I've actually seen combat in the Middle East. It's really easy to sit at home in a hoodie and casually suggest starting a war. It's a lot harder to do the work required to actually bring peace."

Ryan also noted the personal cost of combat, saying he lost friends and witnessed civilian suffering during his deployment. He said he supports backing Iranian protesters but emphasized caution about direct military interventions.

Administration Response And Context

Separately, key national security officials in the Trump administration were preparing to brief President Trump with options on how the U.S. might respond to reports that Iranian security forces used lethal force against demonstrators. The president has warned of possible military intervention and said he is weighing "strong options" to counter the reported killings and injuries of protesters.

The Hill has reached out to Sen. Fetterman's office for comment.