Trump team to brief Congress on Iran; Dems seek counterpoint

President Donald Trump walks towards the journalist gathered for his departure at the White House in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2019, to attend a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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WASHINGTON — With questions mounting about President Donald Trump’s tough talk on Iran, top national security officials are heading to Capitol Hill to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats asked for a second opinion.

The competing closed-door sessions today will be unusual and potentially polarizing. They come after weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf that raised alarms about a possible military confrontation with Iran. Lawmakers are warning the Trump administration that it can’t take the country into war without approval from Congress.

Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened Monday to meet provocations by Iran with “great force.” But he also said he’s willing to negotiate.

“We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters Monday.