Documents
Letter from Iranian American Elected Officials Opposing War
Apr. 7
April 7, 2026
We, Iranian American women in political leadership from across the United States of
America, speak in one voice at a moment of deep urgency for our motherland, Iran, and
the Iranian people.
For decades, Iranians living under the Islamic Republic have led the struggle for equality,
freedom, and democratic accountability. Opposition to the regime’s repression is grounded in
their lived experience, shaped by 47 plus years of censorship, imprisonment, executions, mass
murder, and the denial of basic fundamental freedoms. The call for change in Iran emerges from
grassroots movements within its borders and is sustained by generations committed to an Iran
rooted in national identity and culture, human rights, freedom, justice, and the rule of law. We
stand with the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom, secular democracy, adherence to the
full scope of human rights doctrine, and a desire for economic growth and connectivity with the
global community.
At the same time, we unequivocally reject any foreign intervention and oppose any illegal war
framed as “military operation”, condemn the bombing of Iran, unequivocally oppose all attacks
on civilian targets by any side, and further military escalation that may include boots on the
ground and land invasion, and reject calls for war, and proposals by political leaders who claim
that violence can bring liberation. In recent weeks, coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran,
framed by Trump and his hawkish administration as advancing “regime change,” and fighting a
"religious war,” have reportedly caused death, destruction, and civilian harm. Pete Hegseth,
Secretary of War, has used Pentagon worship services and public appearances to cast the war
against Iran as a "Christian crusade" or “holy war.”
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prevents the state from endorsing a
particular religious worldview as the basis for public policy or military action. Under Article 2(4)
of the Charter of the United Nations, states must refrain from the threat or use of force against
the territorial integrity or political independence of another state absent lawful justification; and
international humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and
requires proportionality and precautions in attack.
As reported by the News and international observers, the U.S. and Israel have carried out
attacks in Iran that are causing grave civilian harm, environmental and health catastrophe, and
raising urgent concerns under international law. There has been devastating and documented
damage to residential neighborhoods, schools, healthcare infrastructure, bridges, and cultural
heritage sites – including locations recognized by UNESCO for their historical significance –
alongside significant civilian casualties, with death toll estimates exceeding 3,500 people and
millions displaced within the country. Retaliation by the Islamic Republic has also resulted in
significant damage and loss of lives in Israel and the neighboring countries, and at least 13
members of the US Army have been lost, and many have been injured.
April 7, 2026
We, Iranian American women in political leadership from across the United States of
America, speak in one voice at a moment of deep urgency for our motherland, Iran, and
the Iranian people.
For decades, Iranians living under the Islamic Republic have led the struggle for equality,
freedom, and democratic accountability. Opposition to the regime’s repression is grounded in
their lived experience, shaped by 47 plus years of censorship, imprisonment, executions, mass
murder, and the denial of basic fundamental freedoms. The call for change in Iran emerges from
grassroots movements within its borders and is sustained by generations committed to an Iran
rooted in national identity and culture, human rights, freedom, justice, and the rule of law. We
stand with the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom, secular democracy, adherence to the
full scope of human rights doctrine, and a desire for economic growth and connectivity with the
global community.
At the same time, we unequivocally reject any foreign intervention and oppose any illegal war
framed as “military operation”, condemn the bombing of Iran, unequivocally oppose all attacks
on civilian targets by any side, and further military escalation that may include boots on the
ground and land invasion, and reject calls for war, and proposals by political leaders who claim
that violence can bring liberation. In recent weeks, coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran,
framed by Trump and his hawkish administration as advancing “regime change,” and fighting a
"religious war,” have reportedly caused death, destruction, and civilian harm. Pete Hegseth,
Secretary of War, has used Pentagon worship services and public appearances to cast the war
against Iran as a "Christian crusade" or “holy war.”
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prevents the state from endorsing a
particular religious worldview as the basis for public policy or military action. Under Article 2(4)
of the Charter of the United Nations, states must refrain from the threat or use of force against
the territorial integrity or political independence of another state absent lawful justification; and
international humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and
requires proportionality and precautions in attack.
As reported by the News and international observers, the U.S. and Israel have carried out
attacks in Iran that are causing grave civilian harm, environmental and health catastrophe, and
raising urgent concerns under international law. There has been devastating and documented
damage to residential neighborhoods, schools, healthcare infrastructure, bridges, and cultural
heritage sites – including locations recognized by UNESCO for their historical significance –
alongside significant civilian casualties, with death toll estimates exceeding 3,500 people and
millions displaced within the country. Retaliation by the Islamic Republic has also resulted in
significant damage and loss of lives in Israel and the neighboring countries, and at least 13
members of the US Army have been lost, and many have been injured.
We believe democracy cannot be delivered through missiles, and freedom cannot emerge from
destruction and more death of innocent lives. War would not empower the Iranian people; it
would endanger civilians, weaken civil society, lead to a tsunami of arbitrary arrests and
imprisonments, increase the rate of executions, and strengthen authoritarian forces that thrive
on fear and conflict.
The Iranian people must not become casualties of geopolitical rivalry or instruments of foreign
agendas. We refuse the false choice between repression at home and devastation from abroad.
Both deny Iranians the right to determine their own future.
We call on the international community to stand with the Iranian people through principled
support for human rights, diplomacy, and peaceful engagement — not through policies that
punish civilians or escalate violence. True solidarity means listening to the unifying demands of
the Iranian people and engaging with those who continue to lead movements for change despite
immense risk.
Our position is clear:
● We support an immediate end to the bombing and violence impacting civilians in Iran
and neighboring countries, as well as an end to foreign military intervention.
● We condemn threats of potential use of nuclear weapons against Iran as reported.
● We urge those facilitating a diplomatic negotiation to insist that the Islamic Republic
release all political prisoners and immediately cease all executions in Iran to
demonstrate good faith in the path to peace and stability in the region.
● We oppose authoritarian rule in Iran and support democratic change led peacefully by
the Iranian people themselves, without foreign intervention.
● We condemn advocating for physical war in the name of religion as a direct contradiction
to the US Constitution and the doctrine of separation of Church and State, and call on
Congress to exercise its constitutional war powers to stop unauthorized war against Iran.
● We urge Congress to reject proposals that dramatically expand Pentagon spending and
additional military aid tied to further escalation when such funds are desperately needed
to support urgent community needs.
● We reject any attempts by the Trump administration to assert claims against Iran's
territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly attempts to seize the Strait of Hormuz,
Kharq Island, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, Qeshm, and Larak.
Freedom, sovereignty, and peace are inseparable. Iran’s future must be shaped by its citizens
— not imposed through force, and not written in war.
We stand for an Iran that is free, sovereign, just, and prospering.
Signed and presented in alphabetic order by:
1. Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari - 3rd Congressional District, AZ
2. Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari - Atlanta, GA
We believe democracy cannot be delivered through missiles, and freedom cannot emerge from
destruction and more death of innocent lives. War would not empower the Iranian people; it
would endanger civilians, weaken civil society, lead to a tsunami of arbitrary arrests and
imprisonments, increase the rate of executions, and strengthen authoritarian forces that thrive
on fear and conflict.
The Iranian people must not become casualties of geopolitical rivalry or instruments of foreign
agendas. We refuse the false choice between repression at home and devastation from abroad.
Both deny Iranians the right to determine their own future.
We call on the international community to stand with the Iranian people through principled
support for human rights, diplomacy, and peaceful engagement — not through policies that
punish civilians or escalate violence. True solidarity means listening to the unifying demands of
the Iranian people and engaging with those who continue to lead movements for change despite
immense risk.
Our position is clear:
● We support an immediate end to the bombing and violence impacting civilians in Iran
and neighboring countries, as well as an end to foreign military intervention.
● We condemn threats of potential use of nuclear weapons against Iran as reported.
● We urge those facilitating a diplomatic negotiation to insist that the Islamic Republic
release all political prisoners and immediately cease all executions in Iran to
demonstrate good faith in the path to peace and stability in the region.
● We oppose authoritarian rule in Iran and support democratic change led peacefully by
the Iranian people themselves, without foreign intervention.
● We condemn advocating for physical war in the name of religion as a direct contradiction
to the US Constitution and the doctrine of separation of Church and State, and call on
Congress to exercise its constitutional war powers to stop unauthorized war against Iran.
● We urge Congress to reject proposals that dramatically expand Pentagon spending and
additional military aid tied to further escalation when such funds are desperately needed
to support urgent community needs.
● We reject any attempts by the Trump administration to assert claims against Iran's
territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly attempts to seize the Strait of Hormuz,
Kharq Island, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, Qeshm, and Larak.
Freedom, sovereignty, and peace are inseparable. Iran’s future must be shaped by its citizens
— not imposed through force, and not written in war.
We stand for an Iran that is free, sovereign, just, and prospering.
Signed and presented in alphabetic order by:
1. Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari - 3rd Congressional District, AZ
2. Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari - Atlanta, GA
3. Councilmember Dr. Soheila Bana - Richmond, CA
4. State Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani - 42nd State Legislature, FL
5. State Representative Darya Farivar - 46th Legislative District, WA
6. Sudi Farokhnia - President, Iranian American Democrats of California
7. Dr. Faye Hezar - National Democratic Party Delegate
8. Hanieh Jodat - California Democratic Party Delegate
9. Mayor Pro Tem Jeslin Shahrezaei - Lakewood, CO
10. Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson - Santa Cruz, CA
11. M. Ahmanise Sanati Morgan - California Democratic Party Delegate
12. Leila Namvar - California Democratic Party Delegate and Candidate for Assembly
District 47
13. Susan Aramesh Price - Former City Councilmember, Long Beach, CA
14. Mayor Sheila Rossi - South Pasadena, CA
3. Councilmember Dr. Soheila Bana - Richmond, CA
4. State Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani - 42nd State Legislature, FL
5. State Representative Darya Farivar - 46th Legislative District, WA
6. Sudi Farokhnia - President, Iranian American Democrats of California
7. Dr. Faye Hezar - National Democratic Party Delegate
8. Hanieh Jodat - California Democratic Party Delegate
9. Mayor Pro Tem Jeslin Shahrezaei - Lakewood, CO
10. Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson - Santa Cruz, CA
11. M. Ahmanise Sanati Morgan - California Democratic Party Delegate
12. Leila Namvar - California Democratic Party Delegate and Candidate for Assembly
District 47
13. Susan Aramesh Price - Former City Councilmember, Long Beach, CA
14. Mayor Sheila Rossi - South Pasadena, CA