Iran

The Trump administration’s assassination of the military commander of Iran’s Quds Force is a dangerous escalation of the confrontation with Iran that will lead to more bloodshed, further destabilize Iraq, and expand conflict and instability throughout the Middle East.

On Nov. 18, FCNL joined New York advocates in thanking Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) for his leadership on preventing war with Iran and urging him to ensure the Khanna-Gaetz amendment to the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) remains in the bill through House-Senate conference negotiations.

The Trump administration doubled down on its maximum pressure policy approach to Iran with new sanctions, this time targeting Iran’s construction sector, which—according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo— is under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In a letter sent to congressional leadership today, more than 50 national faith organizations urged Congress to support a key provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prevent war with Iran. This provision, passed earlier by the House, would block government funds from being used in a war with Iran without congressional authorization.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), along with over 50 national faith organizations, urged Congress to prevent an unauthorized war with Iran.

FCNL joined 30 organizations in sending a letter to National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conferees expressing opposition to war with Iran, and urging them to retain bipartisan language to prohibit funds for military action against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress. The conferees are working together to resolve the differences between the defense authorization bills passed separately by the Senate and the House.

Recently, FCNL joined Senators, House members, and many other faith groups at a rally calling for legislation to prevent unauthorized war with Iran, an issue FCNL has been working hard on for months, if not years.

In a pair of stunning victories last week, the House of Representatives adopted bipartisan amendments to the annual defense policy bill that would repeal the 17-year-old authority to engage in a war with Iraq and prohibit spending on an unauthorized war with Iran. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 (NDAA) then passed the House by a final vote of 220-97, without any Republican votes.

Washington, DC - The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded today’s House votes repealing the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq (2002 AUMF) and preventing a new unauthorized war with Iran.