WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism and the source of some of the greatest threats to our national security. Iran continues to sow instability around the region and counter U.S. objectives and interests.

“As we try to make sense of the raised tensions in the Persian Gulf, we should not forget that sixteen years ago, the United States went to war in Iraq on the basis of distorted and misrepresented intelligence. That must never be allowed to happen again.

“Today, we’re hearing a great deal of unexplained rhetoric from the Administration about Iran and seeing an escalation throughout the region. Given the dangers of miscalculation and everyone’s desire to avoid another Iraq, the Administration must inform Congress immediately of any evidence of a new Iranian threat and Congress must take the utmost care in assessing this intelligence.

“In the meantime, the United States needs to work with our allies to de-escalate regional tensions and avoid circumstances which would plunge us into a major conflagration. I am disappointed that the Administration has left consultations with Congress out of their planning and has undermined our alliances by publicly rebuking those who have fought alongside us who may offer a differing opinion on the current state of the threat.”

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