What Democrats Are Saying About The Threat Iran Poses

Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33): “Iran is a terrorist state, a destabilizing force in the Middle East and continues to violate the human rights of Iranians. However, the Trump Administration must immediately brief all Members about this military action and explain why they are sending American troops and taxpayer dollars to another war in the Middle East.”

Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28): “The threat posed by Tehran is real and longstanding. Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. A regime that has spent decades funding terror, targeting American troops, threatening our allies, and killing its own people cannot be allowed to possess the most destructive weapon on Earth. We have seen the courage of the Iranian people demanding freedom, and we have seen the regime respond with brutality. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war and sustain military operations. In any extended engagement, that role must be exercised. The administration must immediately brief the full Congress and clearly explain the scope, strategy, and expected duration of this operation.”

Sen. John Fetterman (PA): “Why can’t we all agree that destroying an Iranian drone carrier aimed at Americans, Israelis and Muslims makes the region and world more safe and secure?”

Rep. Laura Gillen (NY-4): “Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, bankrolling the heinous terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The regime and its proxies seek to destroy America and Israel and wreak havoc across the Middle East. Let me be clear: Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, and the United States must always be prepared to act to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Our nation is eternally grateful to the brave service members who are keeping us safe, and we mourn those who have been lost in the line of duty. I hope the Administration will come with a plan and work with us to counter Iran’s aggression and protect our country.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) — March 6, 2026: “First, I want to be clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the enemy and a tyrannical regime, and I completely support the decisive action our armed forces took last weekend to diminish those threats, including killing the Ayatollah, who brutally slaughtered scores of Americans and thousands of his own people. Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror. Its ballistic missile and drone programs, nuclear ambitions, and terrorist proxies continue to pose a clear and present danger to the United States and our allies. For the sake of freedom and democracy in the world, we simply can’t afford to get this wrong – we must win and crush them.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) — March 1, 2026: “Today, the United States, with our key democratic ally Israel, took decisive action to defend our national security, fight terror, protect our allies, and stand with the Iranian people who have been massacred in the streets for demanding freedom from the murderous Iranian regime. I applaud the extraordinary bravery and professionalism of our service members and pray for their safety as Iran and its terrorist priorities retaliate against American bases and our partners in the region. Since 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared America the ‘Great Satan’ and, with cries for ‘Death to America,’ made clear its commitment to our destruction. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the regime has relentlessly pursued a nuclear weapon and waged a campaign of terror across the Middle East – all while its own people suffer under corruption, repression, and economic collapse. Let me be clear: Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and poses an existential threat to America. Tehran has armed, funded, and directed proxies responsible for killing Americans and attacking our servicemembers, military bases, and ships. That included its backing of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, which murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children and resulted in the kidnapping of 251 people, including 12 Americans.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05): “Today’s attack on Iran was an act of war. Its purported purpose, to stop Khamenei’s fanatical regime from committing further acts of terror, is defensible…Congress has war powers for a reason. We must exercise them…”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08): “Now, make no mistake. Iran is a bad actor. They must be confronted for their nuclear ambitions, painful human rights abuses and repression of its own people, including the slaughter of thousands of civilians during the recent protests. It is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. It is a brutal regime that presents a serious threat to our allies in the Middle East, including Israel, Jordan and the Gulf states.”

Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01): “The U.S. is destroying Iran’s missiles and bombs to stop them from taking more lives These strikes are targeting military infrastructure – with warnings to Iranian civilians to take shelter away from these military targets. If it wasn’t for the regime, the region may very well know peace. For decades, the regime has caused mayhem and bloodshed through Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen – all while the people of Iran have suffered. When the Iranian people stood up to protest the regime last month, the regime murdered tens of thousands of its own people. I hope these targeted strikes on the Iranian regime’s military assets end the regime’s mayhem and bloodshed and makes way for this lasting peace in the region.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23): “The situation in the Middle East is grave and evolving rapidly. In response to US and Israeli strikes, Iran responded by attacking its Arab neighbors. That was certainly a choice. As regional partners remain on high alert, my thoughts are with the brave American service members in harm’s way. At this critical moment, we recognize the extraordinary dedication and sacrifice of those deployed abroad. They serve with courage under immense pressure.”

Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-02): “Iran is led by a brutal and oppressive regime that can never be allowed to posses a nuclear weapon. Our commitment to peace and democracy in Iran as well as the freedom of its people is unwavering. Military action can be justified, but President Trump has an obligation to make the argument for such action to the Congress and the American people.”

Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19): “There is no doubt that Iran has blood on its hands and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, regional missile attacks, support of terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies in the region, like Israel and Jordan.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV): “I’ve always believed that Iran can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon – especially because the Iranian regime is fully committed to the destruction of the U.S. and Israel. At the same time, Iran’s support for ballistic missiles and terrorist proxies are some of the leading national security threats to the U.S., Israel, and the region. The Iranian regime and its proxies have blood on their hands from the thousands of American and IDF troops who they have killed and wounded, and the many others who now sit in harm’s way. As we have seen in the recent violent crackdowns on Iranian protestors that have killed tens of thousands of innocent people, the regime has no hesitation in ruthlessly punishing its own citizens, who have suffered for so many decades under their government’s cruelty. I stand with the Iranian people in their hope for a better future and will continue to work in a bipartisan way in Congress to provide them the support they need to access critical information that aids their efforts for freedom and defend against and document human rights violations. Likewise, my support for Israel and for ensuring it has what it needs to protect itself from attacks by Iran and its proxies remains ironclad. At the same time, I am concerned that the President’s approach to armed conflict over the past year and his Administration’s history of repeatedly withholding information and misleading Congress could lead us into another protracted Middle East conflict, without authorization from Congress. The American people are wary of prolonged military engagements abroad, especially when the objectives are unclear. That is why the Constitution is clear that only Congress has the ability to declare war and authorize the use of military force.”

Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10): “Since its founding in 1979, Iran has threatened its neighbors and chanted ‘Death to Israel, Death to America.’ The Iranian regime today is an existential threat to our allies in the Gulf and Israel, as well as a serious threat to U.S. interests in the region and around the world, and national security here at home. Heaven forbid Iran were to ever obtain a nuclear weapon. The world must work together to block and then permanently close any pathway for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. We must address Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and its support for terrorist proxies around the world. The people of Iran are not our enemy, and we should help them free themselves from the oppression of this terrorist regime. The massacre of tens of thousands of Iranian citizens last month fully exposed the evil of the regime: the world will be a better place when it is gone.

Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08): “Iran’s government is a brutal dictatorship that has violated human rights and is the most significant state sponsor of terrorism across the globe. The regime poses a grave threat to our allies in the region. However, the laws of this nation do not give the President the authority – without Congressional authorization – to send American servicemembers into another war that endangers countless lives.”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25): “The Iranian regime is a sadistic, malevolent actor, unrepentant for their worldwide, murderous actions. For decades, it has armed and funded violent terrorist proxies, brutalized its own people, pursued ballistic missile capabilities, and exploited diplomatic negotiations to buy time while continuing its march toward nuclear weaponization. Iran’s rulers have American, Latin American, Ukrainian, Israeli, and Iranian blood on their hands. They can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and they must be held accountable for their missile program that threatens the safety of Americans and regional partners, especially Israel. Iran and its proxies continue to call for death to America, Israel, and Jews around the world. It goes without saying that the status quo was unacceptable. The Iranian regime is destructive, repressive, and committed to terror. The threat they pose to peace has left the region and the world on the precipice of war for generations. That cannot be allowed to continue. Diplomacy is far preferable but when does one decide that enough is enough? When is it time to realize that the Iranian regime will never drop their stated goal of death to America, Israel and Jews and so, how would diplomacy ever really bear fruit? The next action must be that President Trump comply with the War Powers Act and immediately consult and fully brief Congress before any further action is taken. Americans are due an understanding of the objectives, the legal basis, the risks, and the plan for the day after. Congress has not authorized this action, nor have we been briefed on any imminent threat. The limited information we have received is unclear and unsatisfactory on how Trump’s strategic objectives will be accomplished through military airstrikes alone. Under the law and the U.S. Constitution, President Trump does not possess a blank check to act without consulting Congress or telling the American people what comes next. That must happen.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (MI): “Americans woke up this morning to news that the U.S. and Israel have started major military action against Iran… As a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq, I have no love lost for the Iranian government. They’re a state sponsor of terror, responsible for the deaths of Americans. I saw it up close in Iraq and elsewhere. But issues of war and peace should be treated with the utmost consequence. And President Trump hasn’t made his case to the American people. He hasn’t laid out the goals or the imminent threat posed by Iran that justifies risking a wider regional war. And he hasn’t followed the Constitution and brought this issue before Congress before committing our nation to war. Most elected leaders — including President Trump himself — have condemned the rush to war without clear goals in the past. He owes the American people the same thing he was demanding of previous presidents if he’s going to put lives at risk. And Congress should come back to Washington to debate these issues.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-3): “I agree with the President’s objectives that Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear capabilities. The President must now clearly define the national security objective and articulate his plan to avoid another costly, prolonged war in the Middle East. Iran remains the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the region and must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Preventing that outcome is vital to our national security, the safety of our allies, and the stability of the Middle East.”