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Dear John,
The absolute worst thing that could happen to the Women, Life, Freedom movement and the democratic aspirations of Iranians is war.
As experts have warned for years, Israeli military strikes could at best set back Iran's nuclear program temporarily while likely provoking a mad dash for Iran to build its own nuclear deterrent. Even "targeted" strikes on nuclear facilities would spread toxic chemicals and possibly radiation that could cause significant civilian harm and environmental destruction inside Iran. And such a scenario would drastically empower Iran's security state and give cover for an even more brutal internal crackdown.
Sadly, such confrontation is more likely today than perhaps at any point in recent memory.
That is why NIAC is among 45 organizations demanding President Biden make clear that there is no green light for Israel to bomb Iran.
Read the full letter here >>
Over the last several weeks, President Biden's Ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides, has made concerning remarks that appear to give Israel a blank check for military escalation. According to Nides, “Israel can and should do whatever they need to deal with [Iran’s nuclear program] and we’ve got their back.” He doubled down on these remarks yet again last week, and there has been no clarification from U.S. officials that they are not offering a green light for war (as President Obama notably made in 2009 after then-Vice President Biden implied that the U.S. would support Israeli strikes on Iran).
The Netanyahu government has firmly put the military option on the table. Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly scoffed at the notion that an attack on Iran would be illegal under international law, and Israeli military planners are warning about a closing window to attack Iran.
As I write this, the Saudi-funded Iran International channel is broadcasting an exclusive interview with Netanyahu, with the embattled Israeli Prime Minister expected to make yet another case for military escalation against Iran.
This has little to do with security or Netanyahu's supposed solidarity with Iranian democracy. It is a crass political calculation to distract from the Prime Minister's domestic woes and his own anti-democratic efforts at home. War, and threats of war, are good for Netanyahu, good for Iran's security state and the IRGC, and disastrous for ordinary people caught in the middle.
This is why NIAC, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Quincy Institute, and more than forty other groups are demanding Biden step up and stop a war before it is too late.
We will not stand by when the war drums start beating and hawks seek to silence anti-war voices. If you haven’t already done so, please sign our petition to the administration urging that they retract Amb. Nides remarks and clarify there is no green light for war.
Sign the petition
donate to niac's anti-war efforts
Thank you for supporting this important work.
Sincerely,
Ryan Costello
Policy Director, NIAC Action
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