WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-US Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., sharply criticized fellow Democrats on Monday for opposing President Donald Trump’s military strikes on Iran, declaring that national security must take precedence over party loyalty.

“I cannot understand,” Fetterman said in remarks reported across multiple outlets. “For me, it is country over party. I am proud to stand with our military.”

The comments came amid widespread Democratic criticism of “Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S.-Israeli joint operation launched over the weekend that targeted Iran’s leadership and military assets. Trump announced the strikes, which he said were ahead of schedule, resulted in the elimination of 49 high-ranking Iranian officials in a single day, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and included actions to sink Iranian naval vessels.

Fetterman highlighted the strikes’ impact, calling them a “significant development” for regional peace.

“[The Trump administration] killed 49 members of their leadership in one day,” he said. “And now they are sinking all of their ships too. This is a significant development of regional peace.”

The Pennsylvania senator, who has consistently supported strong measures against Iran, emphasized bipartisan agreement on preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“Every single member of the Senate has agreed that we can never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb, and clearly they were intending to do that,” Fetterman said. “So are you really committed then? Are you willing to put out tweets and have some harsh language, or are you going to support something that produces that?”

Fetterman has defended the operation in interviews on Fox News and CNN, describing it as “entirely appropriate” and necessary to counter the “poisonous regime.” He has rebuked critics within his party, questioning why some Democrats hesitate to back actions that align with long-standing U.S. policy against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The strikes have divided Congress, with most Democrats pushing for a war powers resolution to limit further U.S. involvement, while Fetterman has indicated he will oppose such measures, calling them “empty sloganeering.”

Fetterman’s stance marks a continued departure from many in his party on foreign policy issues involving Israel and Iran, as he praised Trump for being “willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.” He has also expressed support for Israel’s role in the operation.

The operation has drawn praise from Republicans and some moderates, while sparking concerns about escalation and American casualties among others. Trump has described the mission as a display of “peace through strength” aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear threat and degrading its terror networks.