February 28, 2026 – In response to the launch of major U.S. and Israeli hostilities against Iran, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“The U.S. and Israeli launch of a regime change war in Iran is a crime of aggression, one of gravest possible violations of international law. This illegal and unnecessary war of choice endangers millions of people across the Middle East, including tens of thousands of US service members. In seeking to topple the government of a country nearly four times the size of Iraq and with more than twice the population, President Trump has undertaken one of the most reckless military assaults in U.S. history.
Congress has neither declared war on Iran, nor authorized the president to engage the U.S. Armed Forces against it. There is no evidence of an imminent threat to the United States by Iran that warrants bypassing Congress and violating the Constitution. Trump himself confirmed the lack of an immediate danger with his statement that “we’re doing this, not for now. We’re doing this for the future.”
Congress must act urgently to restrain the president. Votes on measures to disengage U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran are expected next week in both chambers. Lawmakers should understand that these will be among the most consequential votes of their careers.
Americans and their representatives must also be ready to hold the president and his administration accountable for this breach of U.S. and international law. The failure to hold past presidents liable for war crimes and related violations of our own laws has helped lead to this dangerous moment, with a seemingly unrestrained president endangering millions of lives with impunity. The forever wars and the imperial presidency must finally come to an end.”
February 23, 2026 – In response to the massive U.S. military building in the Middle East and Presidents Trump’s threats of the use of force against Iran, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“President Trump has neither congressional authorization nor any basis in international law to attack Iran. He has provided no evidence that Iran poses an urgent threat to the United States. Like the June 2025 bombings that failed to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, another U.S. strike would be an illegal act of war. As with his false claims that last year’s attack had ‘completely and totally obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear capacity, the president has now dropped the pretense that military intervention would be aimed at protecting Iranian protestors who bravely faced a deadly crackdown to demonstrate against the regime’s many human rights violations.
The American people overwhelmingly do not support launching another costly and bloody war in the Middle East. Polling this month shows that only about one in five U.S. voters favor military action against Iran, while 74 percent of Democrats and a majority of independents oppose it. Even 60 percent of Republicans either oppose or do not know if they would support an attack.
Concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the regime’s ballistic missile program and grave abuses of Iran’s own people, should be addressed through diplomacy. The fact that current U.S.-Iran talks are reportedly proceeding toward a potential deal which shares key features with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that Trump broke in 2018 is a positive sign amid the rumblings of imminent war – and further validation that important security objectives are often best achieved at the negotiating table.
With Trump sending mixed signals over the timing and scope of possible strikes — and given his record of attacking even when active diplomacy is taking place – Congress must act swiftly to make clear that the president does not have its authorization for the use of the U.S. Armed Forces against Iran. Relevant measures introduced under the War Powers Resolution in both the House of Representatives and Senate should be brought to a vote and passed as soon as possible. Individual lawmakers should vocally indicate their support for these resolutions and make clear their opposition to another reckless war of choice.”
February 6, 2026 – In response to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers’ (R-AL) calling for a $450 billion increase in Pentagon funding as part of an upcoming budget reconciliation bill, Center for International Policy, Ari Tolany, Director of Security Assistance, Arms Trade, and Technology, issued the following statement:
“The provision of nearly half a trillion additional dollars to the Pentagon, an institution which has never successfully passed a financial audit, would represent yet more welfare for defense contractors and their shareholders at the American people’s expense.
The cost of living crisis represents the greatest threat facing many Americans, yet the Trump administration prioritizes military occupation of U.S. cities, a war of choice against Venezuela, and threats to strike even more countries across the globe. Massively increasing the taxpayer money funnelled to an already bloated Pentagon budget to fund Trump’s wars and line weapons moguls’ pockets is unconscionable.
Rather than subsidizing more waste in the name of militarism, Congress should push for a more accountable and transparent Pentagon, while investing in food security, transit, healthcare, and quality education that improves human security and everyday Americans’ quality of life.”
February 4, 2026 – The Center for International Policy issued the following statement in response to increasing online harassment and threats against Iranian-American experts and activists:
“The Center for International Policy is appalled by the campaign of online harassment and threats against experts and activists in the field of US-Iran relations who have voiced concerns or provided expert analysis about the consequences of further US or Israeli military strikes on Iran, or who support diplomacy to address areas of conflict and disagreement with Iran.
A January 30th panel cosponsored by CIP and featuring our Senior Fellow Negar Mortazavi had to be changed from an in-person event to online-only following a set of emails to the hosts and panelists terroristically threatening them with “consequences far beyond inconvenience or protest” and “grave danger” to the “safety and security” of all attendees.
Such attempts to intimidate and stoke fears of violence are the antithesis of liberty and democracy. They are the same tactics used by the Iranian regime and other authoritarians to suppress freedom of ideas and speech.
CIP expresses its solidarity and support for our Iranian-American colleagues and other analysts, activists or journalists facing these repugnant and sometimes criminal attacks. We continue to be deeply grateful for their critical contributions toward justice and human security for the Iranian people and all in the region.”
January 12, 2026 – Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement in response to reports of the Iranian government’s deadly crackdown on protests across the country:
“The Iranian people deserve freedom and the right to protest without repression or reprisal. The indications that widespread demonstrations by brave Iranians are being met with a brutal, deadly crackdown by the Iranian government are horrific. This violence should be unequivocally condemned.
It is uncertain where these historic protests will lead, but one thing must be made clear: The Iranian people should determine their future for themselves.
It is important for other countries and multilateral bodies to vocally stand for the right of Iranians to protest. It is also critical that no country attempts to intervene inside Iran in a manner that could further endanger or undermine the protestors.
Reports that the United States and Israel may be considering military strikes in Iran are deeply concerning. It is difficult to know what the impact of such attacks would be on the plight of the Iranian protestors, and even less clear what the follow-on consequences would be for the Iranian people and security in the region. Israeli and US strikes against Iranian government targets last year were broadly opposed by Iran’s people and diaspora across almost the entire political spectrum.
What is clear is that President Trump does not now have Congress’ authorization for the use of military force in Iran. Any U.S. strikes would be illegal under both U.S. and international law. The administration should instead focus its efforts on working multilaterally to press Iran’s government to end the killing and other abuse of their own citizens.
January 3, 2026 – In response to the United States launching military attacks in Venezuela, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump has launched an illegal and reckless regime change operation in Venezuela. This act of war violates both U.S. and international law, and follows nearly one hundred extrajudicial killings at sea on Trump’s orders.
“None of this use of military force has been authorized by Congress. Lawmakers must assert their constitutional war powers and force the president to remove U.S. armed forces from the hostilities with Venezuela that he has started. They should also seek other possible legislative measures to impose accountability on this administration for its lawless actions.
“Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly do not want to fight another war of choice. 70 percent of U.S. voters oppose taking military action in Venezuela.
“Trump was elected on a promise to end wars, not start them. His illegal aggression against Venezuela once again breaks that promise, and threatens to repeat some of the worst moral and strategic failures of past U.S. military adventurism, for which the American people and communities around the world have paid enormous costs.”
December 17, 2025 – In response to President Trump’s announcement on social media of a blockade of certain ships into and out of Venezuela, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump is starting an illegal and reckless war with Venezuela.
“Blockades, including partial ones like the one announced yesterday by President Trump, are considered acts of war under international law. This act of aggression follows nearly one hundred extrajudicial killings at sea and a massive building of U.S. Armed Forces in the Caribbean on Trump’s orders.
“After a quarter century of bloody and costly military adventurism, Americans overwhelmingly do not want to start or fight another war of choice. 70 percent of U.S. voters oppose taking military action in Venezuela. Trump was elected on a promise to end wars, not start them. Not only is he breaking that promise, his aggression towards Venezuela echoes the worst moments of American imperialist violence and domination in Latin America. We should be moving away from that history, not rebooting it.
“Congress must act to assert its constitutional war powers and stop Trump from launching an illegal and destabilizing war in our hemisphere. Lawmakers are expected to vote imminently on measures under the War Powers Resolution that would make clear the President does not have congressional authorization to engage U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Venezuela. Lawmakers who oppose these measures would not only be rejecting the will of the vast majority of the Americans they represent, but also abdicating one of their most solemn sworn duties.”
November 17, 2025 – In response to reports that the Israeli Government is requesting that the United States succeed the current 10 year Memorandum of Understanding on US aid to Israel with a new 20 year MOU pledging even higher amounts of military assistance, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“Israel’s reported request that American taxpayers provide it with billions of dollars more in military aid every year for the next two decades should be a total nonstarter for the Trump administration and lawmakers of both parties.
“The United States gave Israel nearly $18 billion in weapons aid over the two years of the Gaza war – and Israel repeatedly used those US-subsidized arms to commit grave atrocities in violation of American and international law. It also continues to use US weapons to openly advance its plans to absorb the West Bank in defiance of President Trump’s policy against annexation. It would be deeply irresponsible and harmful to commit to 20 years of underwriting Israel’s war machine, in light of its record of flagrantly misusing the aid and arms we already provided.
“Israel is now a wealthy country, with a higher per capita GDP than each of Finland, France, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. An entire generation of American taxpayers should not be obligated to subsidize Israel’s military activities amid rising costs and shrinking budgets here in the United States.
“Enough is enough – the American people do not want this and did not vote for it. Most Americans now oppose providing Israel with additional military aid. Literally doubling down on past pledges to send taxpayer dollars to Israel against the views of a majority of U.S. voters would signal an alarming willingness to subordinate Americans’ interests at the request of a foreign government.”
October 29, 2025 – In response to horrific acts of violence taking place following the fall of El Fasher, Sudan to the UAE-supported Rapid Support Forces, Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:
“The entire world should be appalled by the acts of genocide and other atrocities taking place at this moment in El Fasher. Having taken the city after a long siege, the Rapid Support Forces are now engaged in a horrific onslaught of mass murder, torture and rape against its civilian population.
“Condemnation of this crime against humanity is not enough. The international community must take decisive action to enforce the United Nations arms embargo on the conflict in Sudan and hold accountable all who have enabled this genocide.
“In particular, the United States and its partners should halt arms transfers to, and impose other sanctions on, the United Arab Emirates, which is supplying the RSF with the weapons and related material used to carry out atrocities in Darfur. Failure to take enforcement action against the UAE could condemn hundreds of thousands more civilians to death at the hands of the genocidal forces the Emirates have armed.
“The international community must also continue to document these crimes so that perpetrators in Sudan can be held accountable. We must not fail yet another test of international norms and laws in the face of genocide and mass atrocities. It is past time to fully enforce the embargo, hold the UAE accountable, and bring the war in Sudan to an end.”
October 16, 2025 – In response to reports that the Trump Administration has authorized covert Central Intelligence Agency action in Venezuela, Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Matt Duss issued the following statement:
“Reports that the Trump Administration has authorized covert efforts seeking to foment regime change in Venezuela are deeply concerning. These reports follow on the administration’s unlawful and unauthorized use of military force against vessels and their crews in the Caribbean – which constitute extrajudicial killings.
“Using covert or military measures to destabilize or overthrow regimes reminds us of some of the most notorious episodes in American foreign policy, which undermined the human rights and sovereignty of countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. We are still dealing with many of the harmful consequences of these disastrous interventions in today’s challenges with migration and the drug trade. Such interventions rarely lead to democratic or peaceful outcomes. Instead, they exacerbate internal divisions, reinforce authoritarianism, and destabilize societies for generations.
“Trump ran as an anti-war candidate and casts himself as a Nobel Prize-worthy peacemaker, yet he is conducting illegal strikes while threatening to start wars of choice across Latin America and the Caribbean. A majority of Americans oppose US military involvement in Venezuela. Lawmakers must make clear that Trump does not have the American people’s support or Congress’ authorization for the use of force against Venezuela or anywhere else in the region.”
