WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been eased following the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and threatened yet further sanctions. Udall has introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the United States from expending funds for war with Iran without either express approval from Congress or in response to imminent attack, as required by the Constitution.
“Led by people like John Bolton, who believe we should ‘bomb Iran,’ I fear the Trump administration is marching toward another catastrophic war in the Middle East. This administration’s reckless withdrawal from the JCPOA has squandered our best opportunity to prevent a nuclear Iran, moving us closer to a military conflict that the American people don’t want – all while undercutting our most importance alliances abroad.
“Instead of bellicose policies and rhetoric designed to provoke conflict, we need to return to smart diplomacy, in concert with our allies, to stop Iran’s dangerous behavior, keep our nation and allies safe, and promote global stability. And Congress must reassert its Constitutional authority and end the looming threat of war with Iran. No administration, Democratic or Republican, should be permitted to enter the United States into another war in the Middle East without the approval of the American people and explicit authorization from Congress.”
