Garamendi Statement on Israel-Iran Conflict

WASHINGTON DC - Today, Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-8) released the following statement regarding the Israel-Iran conflict.   

“America cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. We must not allow Prime Minister Netanyahu to sucker us into another endless Middle East war. We must de-escalate and return to the negotiating table to achieve what we all want: an Iran that never obtains a nuclear weapon.”

“Israel's attack was a dangerous escalation that has already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians in both Iran and Israel. War with Iran is not in the interest of the United States, and robust diplomacy remains the best option for achieving long-term peace, regional stability and an Iran with no nuclear weapons. Further escalation is a threat to regional stability, risks drawing the U.S. into a wider conflict, and puts thousands of American servicemembers in harm’s way.

“The JCPOA negotiated by President Obama was our best chance at ensuring that Iran could not build a nuclear weapon. Unfortunately, Donald Trump ripped up this critical treaty. Trump may have killed that signature deal that was negotiated by Russia, China, France, the U.K., Germany, the European Union and the United States. There is still room for the administration to negotiate a new deal to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. We should be focused on reviving diplomatic efforts—not threatening military escalation or considering the use of bunker buster bombs. This is a dangerous path.”  

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