"America Doesn't Want War" Prominent U.S. Lawmakers Condemn War on Iran

Prominent U.S. lawmakers including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, Rashida Tlaib, Jeff Merkley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran Saturday, condemning the president for starting a war without a War Powers vote.

The six lawmakers escalated opposition, demanding Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over war and questioning the administration’s objectives.

Senator Bernie Sanders cast doubt on the administration’s rationale, writing: “Trump said we had to attack Iran because we can’t allow it ‘to have a nuclear weapon.’ Really?” He added: “Vietnam. Iraq. Iran. Another lie. Another war.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren called the campaign “illegal and a betrayal of the American people,” arguing that “only Congress can declare war.”

She urged the Senate to return immediately to vote on a War Powers Resolution, stating: “America first’ doesn’t mean dragging the United States into another forever war built on lies.”

Senator Jeff Merkley echoed that constitutional argument, saying: “Trump acknowledges he has launched a war. This shreds our Constitution, which assigns decisions of war to Congress.”

He added: “Congress must vote on a War Powers Resolution immediately. No war with Iran!”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and pressed for transparency. “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East,” Schumer said.

He called for “an immediate all senators classified briefing” and public testimony, adding that the Senate should pass a resolution to enforce the War Powers Act.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the conflict as “unlawful” and “unnecessary,” warning: “Violence begets violence. We learned this lesson in Iraq. We learned this lesson in Afghanistan.”

She further said “This is a deliberate choice of aggression when diplomacy and security were within reach. Stop lying to the American people” arguing that Congress authorizes war and not the president.

Representative Rashida Tlaib said: “The American people do not want a war with Iran,” accusing Trump of ignoring public opposition and adding: “No More Wars.”

The political backlash unfolds as Reuters reported that several senior U.S. officials remain skeptical the U.S.-Israeli campaign will lead to regime change in the near term.

Intelligence assessments presented to the White House before the attack concluded that if Khamenei were killed, he could be replaced by hardline figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or equally hardline clerics.

Three U.S. officials told Reuters there is “serious skepticism” that Iran’s opposition can topple the governing system established in 1979, particularly in the absence of defections from the IRGC during January’s mass protests.

U.S. military forces have struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets since major combat operations began Saturday, according to the U.S. military.Reuters

As the campaign continues and debate intensifies in Washington, the dispute has crystallized around constitutional authority, strategic clarity, and the feasibility of reshaping Iran’s political order through sustained military pressure.