Dear John,

Trump is playing with fire in his escalating attacks on Iran—ratcheting up sanctions even further, sending more troops and weapons to the region, condemning Iran’s “blood lust” at the United Nations. We are dangerously close to war with Iran, and Iranians are already suffering from “economic warfare” via brutal sanctions. The 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have a voice on the national scene right now—let’s ask them to use it to prevent war with Iran. Send the candidates a message urging them to make public statements opposing military intervention against Iran and calling for the sanctions to be lifted.

In the past, Europe has been a moderating factor, trying to work around US sanctions to provide Iranians with economic relief. Now it seems that European leaders are caving in to Trump’s pressure. On Monday, the UK, Germany, and France issued a joint statement blaming Iran for the September 14 attacks on Saudi oil fields—Iran continues to deny that it had any role in the attacks—and calling on Iran to negotiate on its nuclear program and broader issues such as its missile defense system.

This is the exact opposite of what is needed. Instead of tightening the screws on Iran even further, countries and leaders should be demanding that sanctions be lifted so that humanitarian goods can be imported and the foundation can be laid for negotiations.

Last week, along with announcing the deployment of 200 US troops to Saudi Arabia, Trump announced even greater sanctions on Iran—this time on the Central Bank of Iran. Trump bragged that the sanctions would be the “highest sanctions ever imposed on a country,” and that the penalties would go “right to the top” of the Iranian government. But what the sanctions really hit are medicines and other humanitarian supplies. This is because it is the Central Bank of Iran that allocates the nation’s limited foreign reserves to Iranian banks involved in humanitarian trade. Without this, Iranian importers don’t have the currency to pay for humanitarian goods.

No one in Iran should be denied access to cancer medications, diabetes medications, sufficient food, and other necessities because Trump doesn’t like the Iranian government. Even before Trump’s newest sanctions, Iranians were already being forced to go without critical medicines. Now, with European countries giving nods of approval to Trump’s economic warfare, it is urgent that US leaders speak out. Contact the 2020 presidential candidates and ask them to tweet or state that Trump must not take the US to war with Iran, and must lift the sanctions.

Even if it was Iran that carried out the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil fields, that is none of the US’s business. And if any country’s behavior warrants punishment, it is Saudi Arabia, which is carrying out a war in Yemen so brutal that every five minutes a child in Yemen dies from malnutrition. But Trump—now with nods of approval from the UK, Germany, and France—is supporting Saudi Arabia, and even sending US troops to protect the Saudis. This path will lead to disaster. Tell the 2020 presidential candidates to act now!

Working to stop the next war,
Ann, Ariel, Caroline, Carley, Clara, Jodie, Leonardo, Maya, Mark, Medea, Megan, Michelle, Nancy, Paki, Rose, Teri, Tighe, and Zena

P.S. Even education is affected by the sanctions. That’s why we are running a Books Not Bombs for Iran fundraiser to supply Iran’s University with book. Donate now!