Bernie Sanders introduces bill to keep US away from Netanyahu's war

US Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a new bill in Congress containing a provision that the US cannot conduct any military operation in Iran without prior congressional approval. Titled the "No War Against Iran Act", the bill includes exceptions for self-defense, which fall under the existing War Powers Act and US customary laws.

Seven other Democratic senators—Peter Welch, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tammy Baldwin, and Tina Smith—are co-sponsoring the bill. Sanders said, "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reckless and illegal attacks are violating international law and creating the risk of spreading war across the entire Middle East." He further said, "We cannot get dragged into this manufactured war by Netanyahu.

Congress must send a clear message right now that the US cannot be dragged down the path of another Middle East war." Sanders claimed that Israel deliberately disrupted ongoing nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran by assassinating Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Shamkhani. Pointing towards former President Donald Trump, he said, "He has no legal authority to start another costly war."

According to Sanders, another war would cause countless deaths, trillions of dollars in damage, and prolonged violence and displacement. He called upon the Trump administration to halt any further military support to Israel.