News & Updates

Dear Mr. Boldenow,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the war in Iran. Your thoughts are important.

On December 28th, 2025, demonstrations broke out in Tehran and spread across Iran in response to the country's faltering economy and the collapse of its currency. What began as protests over economic conditions evolved into broader opposition to the Iranian government and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On January 8th, 2026, Iran embarked on a major crackdown, cutting off the internet and international telephone calls to its citizens and killing thousands of protestors. As a result of the Iranian government's actions and nuclear capabilities, President Trump threatened military intervention and increased military buildup in the region.

On February 28, 2026, President Trump, in cooperation with Israeli forces, launched strikes on Iran, killing more than 1,000 people and triggering a wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases across the region. The Trump Administration insisted that strikes were necessary to eliminate "imminent threats" from Iran's nuclear program. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior Iranian officials were killed in the strikes, and the Trump Administration has openly called for a regime change. The war has expanded with strikes coming from both sides, endangering millions of lives, stranding thousands of foreign citizens, and disrupting the global economy.

America must always defend its national security interests and protect its personnel. There is no question that this regime was brutal. It slaughtered its own people, massacred thousands, crushed dissent, and posed a serious threat to regional stability. Its pursuit of dangerous weapons and destabilizing actions put innocent lives at risk and alarmed the international community. No one should minimize the evil of what it has done. But the American people deserve transparency, a lawful authorization for the use of force, and a clear explanation of how this action makes our nation safer without plunging us into another endless war.

The President's decision to use military force without authorization from Congress is unconstitutional. Congress has the sole power to declare war, and these decisions must be debated before the public. The American people have lived through decades of war in the Middle East, and there is deep concern about being pulled once again into an open-ended conflict with no clear strategy or defined end. That is why I am a cosponsor and voted in support of H.Con.Res.38, the Iranian War Powers Resolution.

The Iranian government must be held accountable for its actions, but military action should always be a last resort. The United States must recommit to de-escalation strategies and pursue diplomatic engagement while standing up for the rights and safety of the Iranian people. Any U.S. military involvement requires Congressional authorization.

Again, thank you for contacting my office.

— Rep. Debbie Dingell