Trump says 52 targets already lined up if Iran retaliates

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Saturday, threatening to hit dozens of targets in Islamic Republic “very fast and very hard” if it retaliates for targeted killing of he of Iran's elite Quds Force.

series of tweets came as White House sent to Congress a formal tification under War Powers Act of drone strike on Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a senior ministration official said. U.S. law required tification within 48 hours of introduction of American forces into an armed conflict or a situation that could le to war.

tification was classified and it was t kwn if a public version would be released. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said classified document “suggests Congress and American people are being left in dark about our national security.”

In unusually specific langu, Trump tweeted that his ministration h alrey targeted 52 Iranian sites, “some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture." He linked number of sites to number of hosts, also 52, held by Iran for nearly 15 months after protesters overran U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Thousands of Iranians lined Baghd streets Saturday for funeral procession for Soleimani. Islamic Republic has vowed revenge for Trump-ordered airstrike that killed him and several senior Iraqi militants early Friday Baghd time.

Trump appeared to respond to such threats with tweets justifying Soleimani's killing and matching bellicose langu from Iran.

“Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding world of ir terrorist leer who h just killed an American, & bly wounded many ors, t to mention all of people he h killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters," president tweeted. "He was alrey attacking our Embassy, and preparing for ditional hits in or locations. Iran has been thing but problems for many years.”

Trump also warned: " USA wants more threats!”

tification document sent Saturday to congressional leership, House speaker and Senate president pro tempore was entirely classified, according to a senior Democratic aide and a congressional aide. aides and senior ministration were t authorized to discuss matter publicly and requested anymity.

In a statement, Pelosi said “highly unusual” decision to classify document compounds concerns from Congress.

“This document prompts serious and urgent questions about timing, manner and justification of ministration’s decision to eng in hostilities against Iran,” Pelosi said and reiterated her call for a full briefing for lawmakers.

Pelosi said Trump ministration’s “provocative, escalatory and disproportionate military engment continues to put servicemembers, diplomats and citizens of America and our allies in danger.” She called on ministration “for an immediate, comprehensive briefing of full Congress on military engment related to Iran and next steps under consideration.”