De-escalation with Iran a shared goal of feuding U.S. lawmakers

WASHINGTON – U.S. lawmakers across the political spectrum called for de-escalation of tensions with Iran Wednesday following back-and-forth airstrikes, but clear divisions remained over President Donald Trump's military strategy with Tehran. Republicans praised the commander in chief for signaling he had no immediate plans to respond militarily hours after Iran's missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing American troops. Iran's riposte followed the death of a top-ranked Iranian commander from a U.S. drone attack. Many Democrats seethed over Trump's unilateral order to kill the Iranian commander, Qassem Soleimani, without congressional consent. But they took heart in both sides appearing to choose de-escalation rather than a war posture.