Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement on the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, details of which have been shrouded in secrecy by the Trump Administration: “I am encouraged by early reports of a ceasefire deal. The bombing in Iran and Lebanon must end. I opposed the war with Iran before it began, and I oppose this war today—it has been a massive failure. “President Trump’s own objectives for his illegal war—to topple the regime, to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile program—have not been met. The new Supreme Leader is upholding the status quo, there is no indication that nuclear material has been meaningfully destroyed, and our own intelligence has said 75% of Iran’s missile arsenal is intact. Trump wanted ‘unconditional surrender’ but the only unconditional surrender has been by the president himself. “After more than 100 days of fighting, the United States is worse off than before President Trump started this war. Thirteen American servicemembers have been killed and hundreds more have been injured. Thousands of innocent civilians in Iran and Lebanon have been killed by bombs. There is major destruction across the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and farmers and families in Vermont are paying more at the gas pump and at the grocery store. “Congress has stood by as President Trump unilaterally took us to war. It is long past time we reassert our Article I powers to declare war. As the Senate debates the defense authorization bill in the coming weeks, we must ask why we would consider validating this failed war in Iran and the administration’s reckless actions. And we must demand accountability for this historic blunder.” ###