Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

New Mexico leaders debate impacts of military escalation

In the days after U.S. airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites, New Mexico leaders responded to President Donald Trump’s use of military force in the Middle East.

Democrats criticized the president for “unilateral” use of military force while Republicans supported the attacks as necessary amid growing hostility in the region.

New Mexico Rep. Jim Townsend (R-34), who represents Eddy and Otero counties, said Monday that the strikes were “unfortunate” but necessary as Iran appeared to be building its nuclear arsenal.

He said it was clear the bombings were “the last resort” as diplomacy broke down in Iran.

“Presidents have historically done everything to appease, and none of that worked,” Townsend said. “The Iranian administration continued to be untruthful about its nuclear progress. I don’t think there was any doubt of their intentions.

“I support the president, and he has stayed true to his cause of putting America first.”

The state’s all-Democrat congressional delegation in a series of statements on Saturday and Sunday criticized Trump’s decision to join Israel’s military campaign against Iran, maintaining that only Congress could declare war and that the Trump administration’s escalation of military action in the Middle East must be halted for the sake of global peace.

“Mr. President let’s be clear: Only Congress has the power to declare war, and we have not,” said U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in a Sunday Facebook post. “What we urgently need is to return to diplomacy, even if I am skeptical in this president’s ability to do that, or much else. Above all, I want our service members and Americans to know I stand with you.”

U.S. forces struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites, Trump said late on Saturday, and he warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.

“The strikes were a spectacular military success,” Trump said in a televised address. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran’s future held “either peace or tragedy,” and there were many other targets that could be hit by the U.S. military.

“If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” Trump said.

But U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), who represents the state’s southern 2nd Congressional District, said peace could only come through diplomacy, not military force.

“Congress — not any one president — has the constitutional authority to declare war,” Vasquez posted to X on Saturday. “Military escalation in Iran puts American troops, our allies, and global stability at great risk. The American people want peace, not another prolonged war.”

The U.S. reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes were the only attacks planned and the U.S. is not seeking regime change, CBS News reported.

Trump said U.S. forces struck Iran’s three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News host Sean Hannity that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites.

B-2 bombers were also involved in the strikes, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Fordow is gone.”

The strikes led to the Iranian Parliament voting to close the Straight of Hormuz, which could cut off the shipping route for about 20 million barrels of oil per day, reported Power the Future – an oil and gas trade group that frequently lobbies for industry interests in New Mexico.

Executive Director Daniel Turner said this action was intended to “use energy as a weapon” and drive-up fuel costs for Americans by impacting the nation’s oil supply.

Turner countered that increased U.S. oil and gas production, largely in the Permian Basin region in southeast New Mexico and West Texas, would help the U.S. support its own needs against hostility from Iran in response to the attacks.

He pointed to about 13.5 million barrels per day produced in the U.S. in March, according to the latest report from the Energy Information Administration, the most ever recorded by the agency since it started tracking production in 1920.

“Iran is trying to use energy as a weapon, but thanks to America’s energy workers we’re producing more oil than ever and in a stronger position to withstand aggression like this,” Turner said.

Reuters contributed to this story.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.