Jim Risch, the Republican senator who chairs the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, praised Donald Trump for his “decisive action” on Saturday night, and insisted the US would not be drawn into a “forever war”.

“President Trump took decisive action today to assist the Israelis in their efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear programme,” Risch said. “Only American weapons could do what has been done. This has made America safer, in addition to the Israelis, and the world more broadly.”

“This is not the start of a forever war,” Risch continued. “There will not be American boots on the ground in Iran. This was a precise, limited strike, which was necessary and by all accounts was very successful.”