Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement urging the Trump administration to not undermine the protest movement in Iran by using military force, which he argued would result in ramifications far beyond the protests.
“I stand in solidarity with the Iranian people, who are making their voices heard in opposition to a brutal regime. U.S. military action taken under the premise of helping these protesters risks doing the opposite: silencing an organic movement, strengthening the regime’s narrative, and inflicting civilian harm. Any lasting change in Iran will come from the courage of the Iranian people marching for dignity and freedoms, not from U.S. military strikes.
“The Iranian regime is a brutal, corrupt, and repressive government that has for decades terrorized its own people and destabilized the region. It is a regime that deserves to be replaced. But history is clear: the United States has never achieved sustainable regime change through airstrikes alone.
“As the administration weighs its options, Congress must be fully consulted. The American people deserve clear answers about whether U.S. forces in the region are prepared for potential Iranian retaliation, whether our diplomats and service members could be placed at greater risk, and whether our allies—particularly Israel—are fully coordinated with and prepared to defend against possible missile attacks. Most importantly, the administration should make clear how military action is in the interest of the American people who voted against more reckless foreign wars.
“At a moment when the United States is already stretched globally—responding to crises in Ukraine, Gaza, of its own making in Venezuela, and elsewhere—we must be honest about the risks of escalation and the real possibility of a regional conflict spiraling out of control.
“I urge restraint and a return to a strategy that reflects our values, our constitutional responsibilities, and the hard lessons of history. The most effective way to stand with the Iranian people is through support that empowers Iranians themselves.”
“I stand in solidarity with the Iranian people, who are making their voices heard in opposition to a brutal regime. U.S. military action taken under the premise of helping these protesters risks doing the opposite: silencing an organic movement, strengthening the regime’s narrative, and inflicting civilian harm. Any lasting change in Iran will come from the courage of the Iranian people marching for dignity and freedoms, not from U.S. military strikes.
“The Iranian regime is a brutal, corrupt, and repressive government that has for decades terrorized its own people and destabilized the region. It is a regime that deserves to be replaced. But history is clear: the United States has never achieved sustainable regime change through airstrikes alone.
“As the administration weighs its options, Congress must be fully consulted. The American people deserve clear answers about whether U.S. forces in the region are prepared for potential Iranian retaliation, whether our diplomats and service members could be placed at greater risk, and whether our allies—particularly Israel—are fully coordinated with and prepared to defend against possible missile attacks. Most importantly, the administration should make clear how military action is in the interest of the American people who voted against more reckless foreign wars.
“At a moment when the United States is already stretched globally—responding to crises in Ukraine, Gaza, of its own making in Venezuela, and elsewhere—we must be honest about the risks of escalation and the real possibility of a regional conflict spiraling out of control.
“I urge restraint and a return to a strategy that reflects our values, our constitutional responsibilities, and the hard lessons of history. The most effective way to stand with the Iranian people is through support that empowers Iranians themselves.”