Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke with Fox News Digital about Israel's strikes on Iran. (Getty Images)
Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes in and around Tehran beginning Thursday night Eastern Time. The Israeli government said the strikes were pre-emptive, and that Tehran was approaching nuclear weapon capabilities.
"They were very close to a nuclear bomb," McCaul said.
Israel said it hit Iranian nuclear sites, and that its strikes killed multiple senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by launching missiles toward Israeli territory on Friday afternoon.
McCaul said it was a "major setback" for Iran but that he was sure that officials in Tehran would respond.
"When we were in the region, they felt certain that Iran would strike our military sites in Saudi, Jordan and the UAE," he said.
"The big talk also at that time was, give CENTCOM time to get prepared in the region to get all of its strategic assets in place for a response. And my understanding is … all of our bases and military sites and embassies are on high alert."
The Texas Republican also recalled what he now believes were telling signs that some kind of military operation was imminent.
Firefighters and people clean up the scene of an explosion in Tehran, Iran, following Israeli airstrikes on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP/Vahid Salemi)
Trump said the strike happened on Day 61 after Iran had a 60-day window to make a deal with the U.S. to contain its nuclear enrichment. He also said he hoped Iran would come back to the negotiating table after the attack.
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But McCaul was not optimistic Tehran would agree to sufficient standards.
"I just, I have little faith in the negotiations, to be honest with you," he said.
It's not clear as of now whether those talks will resume.
But if they were to fall through again, McCaul said, Iranians would have incentive to push for a new government "once and for all."
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised a "legitimate and powerful response" to Israel's strikes.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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