U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has condemned Israel’s strike on Iran, calling it illegal and a grave mistake. He blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for escalating the conflict and urged former President Donald Trump to immediately pursue a diplomatic solution.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sanders said:
“The United States must not become part of Netanyahu’s war. Enough is enough. America must not engage in a war against Iran.”
He warned that such a move would be a major and deadly mistake, emphasizing that Trump must work with the international community to prevent further escalation and focus on diplomacy. Sanders added that Netanyahu’s illegal actions have made the world more dangerous.
The Senator further stated that Netanyahu launched a sudden and unilateral attack on Iran, sparking the current war, which has already claimed hundreds of lives and left many injured. He accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts by killing a key Iranian nuclear negotiator just before scheduled talks with the U.S., which were supposed to take place on Sunday.
Sanders stressed:
“Regardless of one’s views on Iran’s corrupt and authoritarian regime, this attack is a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.”
He cautioned that the United States must not be dragged into another war initiated by Netanyahu, neither militarily nor financially. Quoting the U.S. Constitution, he said any offensive military action—against Iran or any other country—requires explicit Congressional approval, which currently does not exist. Therefore, any participation would be unlawful. He urged Congress not to back down on this critical issue.
Speaking about the Israeli Prime Minister, Sanders stated:
“Let’s not forget who Benjamin Netanyahu is. He’s a war criminal indicted by the International Criminal Court for starving civilian populations in Gaza and launching attacks on non-combatants. Even now, Israel is blocking humanitarian aid to civilians in desperate need.”
He added that Israeli forces recently killed hundreds of civilians trying to access limited aid centers in Gaza.
Concluding his statement, Sanders said:
“Netanyahu’s illegal and unilateral strike on Iran is another serious breach of international law. Under his extremist leadership, Israel is becoming a rogue state increasingly isolated from the world. The U.S. must not be complicit in this war.”
