Senator Bernie Sanders Warns Against US Involvement in Netanyahu's War on Iran

Senator Bernie Sanders begins by painting a stark contrast between the hopes for 2025 and the harsh realities facing the world. Instead of uniting to tackle pressing global issues like climate change, pandemic prevention, and income inequality, the world is engulfed in multiple conflicts. He highlights the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict, and the newly escalating war involving Iran.

"In the year 2025 one might have hoped that the global community would be working together to address the existential threat of climate change... But tragically that is not where we are today." 0

Key points:

• The world faces multiple crises simultaneously.
• Instead of cooperation, there is escalating violence.
• The war in Ukraine and Gaza are ongoing humanitarian disasters.
• A new war involving Iran threatens to worsen global instability.

Sanders focuses on the recent unilateral attack by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on Iran, describing it as illegal and a violation of international law. He stresses that Israel’s surprise bombing killed hundreds and provoked Iranian retaliation. Sanders condemns the attack as a "preemptive war" that breaches the United Nations Charter.

"Netanyahu launched an illegal and unilateral surprise attack on Iran bombing targets across the country and killing hundreds of people." 1:23
"Israel's attack clearly violated international law and the United Nations charter." 1:39

Key points:

• Netanyahu’s attack was unilateral and illegal.
• The attack killed hundreds and provoked Iranian counterattacks.
• Preemptive wars are not justified under international law.
• Netanyahu is described as a war criminal under indictment by the International Criminal Court.

Sanders draws attention to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, accusing Netanyahu of war crimes, including starving civilians and blocking UN aid. He cites a recent incident where Israeli tanks fired on a crowd seeking food, killing at least 59 people.

"Netanyahu is a war criminal under indictment by the International Criminal Court for starving innocent people and killing civilians in Gaza." 1:58
"Israeli tanks fired into a crowd desperately trying to collect food killing at least 59 people." 2:19

Key points:

• Gaza faces starvation due to Israeli policies.
• The UN is being blocked from delivering humanitarian aid.
• Netanyahu’s government is accused of war crimes.
• Civilians, including children, are suffering immensely.

Sanders reveals that Netanyahu’s attack was timed to undermine ongoing U.S. diplomatic negotiations with Iran. He notes that the U.S. had conducted five rounds of talks and planned a sixth, which Netanyahu’s attack disrupted. The assassination of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team leader during the strikes is highlighted as a deliberate sabotage.

"Israel's attack was specifically designed to sabotage American diplomatic efforts." 3:27
"In recent months the United States has held five rounds of negotiations with Iran to resolve these longstanding concerns." 2:55

Key points:

• The U.S. was actively pursuing diplomacy with Iran.
• Netanyahu’s attack derailed these efforts.
• The assassination of Iran’s nuclear negotiator was part of the attack.
• U.S. intelligence does not confirm Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Sanders challenges the narrative that Iran is building nuclear weapons, citing testimony from Tulsi Gabbard, former director of national intelligence under Trump, who stated that intelligence assessments do not support this claim.

"The intelligence community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon." 4:01

Key points:

• U.S. intelligence does not confirm Iran’s nuclear weapon development.
• The justification for Netanyahu’s attack is questioned.
• The attack risks escalating a regional war unnecessarily.

Sanders provides historical background, reminding viewers that the current Iranian regime resulted from a 1953 Western-backed coup that overthrew a democratically elected government. This context frames the current tensions as partly rooted in past foreign interventions.

"The current Islamic regime in Iran is itself the product of a western-backed coup in 1953 that overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran." 4:29

Key points:

• Iran’s regime has complex origins linked to Western interference.
• Understanding history is crucial to grasping current conflicts.
• The regime’s legitimacy is contested but tied to past foreign actions.

Sanders issues a strong warning that the U.S. must not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war with Iran. He emphasizes the constitutional requirement for Congressional authorization before any offensive military action and states no such authorization exists.

"The United States Constitution is crystal clear. There can be no offensive use of military force against Iran or any other country without an explicit authorization from Congress." 5:17

Key points:

• U.S. involvement in the war would be illegal without Congress.
• The U.S. has already provided massive financial aid to Israel.
• Military involvement would be a disaster for the U.S. and the region.

Sanders criticizes the enormous U.S. military aid to Israel, highlighting the contrast with domestic issues like homelessness and lack of healthcare in America. He calls for an end to this disproportionate support.

"By providing massive aid to Israel we have Americans sleeping out on the street unable to afford health care or other basic necessities. Enough is enough." 5:51

Key points:

• U.S. taxpayers fund billions in military aid to Israel annually.
• Domestic social needs in the U.S. remain unmet.
• Sanders calls for re-prioritizing resources away from endless foreign aid.

Sanders recalls President Donald Trump’s inaugural promise to be a peacemaker and unifier, urging him to live up to those words by opposing Netanyahu’s war and supporting diplomatic solutions instead.

"President Trump ran as a supposed peace candidate... 'My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.'" 6:02
"Supporting Netanyahu's war against Iran would be a catastrophic mistake." 6:21

Key points:

• Trump’s peace rhetoric is contrasted with current events.
• Sanders urges Trump to oppose war and promote diplomacy.
• The U.S. should work with the international community to de-escalate.

Sanders concludes by reiterating that Netanyahu’s attack has made the world more dangerous and that the U.S. must not participate in this war. He calls for urgent diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions.

"Netanyahu's illegal attack has made the world a more dangerous place. The United States must not be a part of this war." 6:32

Key points:

• The war increases global instability.
• U.S. involvement would worsen the situation.
• Diplomacy is the only viable path forward.

---

This video is a passionate and detailed plea from Senator Bernie Sanders against U.S. involvement in the escalating conflict initiated by Netanyahu against Iran. It combines legal, historical, humanitarian, and political arguments to advocate for peace and diplomacy over war.