On January 2, 2020, under orders from Donald Trump, the Pentagon carried out the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s paramilitary forces, and one of the top three figures in the Iranian government. Iran has vowed retaliation.

Despite the White House propaganda machine's best efforts, one thing is clear: Trump did not consider the consequences of his careless escalation. He has unilaterally empowered the most aggressive hardline elements inside Iran to consolidate influence internally and respond with violence externally.

War with Iran would inevitably kill large numbers of civilians, be astronomically expensive, bring international condemnation, and foster even more hatred towards the United States and its people. Experts believe it would be more devastating in both human and financial costs than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration doesn’t seem to have anything close to a strategy to prevent further escalation. And now Americans, Iranians, and global community will be caught in the crossfire.

Despite Trump's continued assault on the rule of law, only Congress has the power to decide whether we go to war. And now Congress must step in to immediately de-escalate and engage meaningfully in a diplomatic process for peace.

Sign and send a petition to Congress: Act immediately to stop a catastrophic war with Iran.