Sen. Bernie Sanders called for the United States to end the war with Iran, arguing that the fighting is driving gasoline prices higher and inflicting significant damage on the U.S. economy.
In a social media post, the Vermont independent blamed President Donald Trump’s “illegal and disastrous war in Iran” for “thousands of casualties” and said the conflict was “wreaking havoc on the economy.”
Sanders cited the nationwide average price of gasoline, saying it had climbed to $4.15 per gallon over Labor Day weekend.
“We must end this war NOW,” Sanders wrote.
Sanders’ remarks came days after U.S. forces carried out another round of strikes against Iranian military targets. U.S. Central Command said the Sept. 1 operation hit Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, including air defense positions, radar systems, maritime facilities and assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites.
CENTCOM said the strikes followed recent attempts by the IRGC to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American military personnel. More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East, according to the command.
Iran subsequently fired ballistic missiles toward U.S. military bases in Jordan. According to the Jordanian military, 13 missiles were launched toward the kingdom, 10 of which were intercepted, while the remaining three exploded away from populated areas.
President Trump on Friday warned that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian location where Tehran is alleged to have been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump again made clear that Washington would not permit Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said, before adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”
The Trump administration has also stepped up its economic campaign against Tehran. The Treasury Department last week launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized as an unprecedented U.S. effort to isolate Iran economically and limit the revenue available to the Iranian regime.
Sanders has repeatedly opposed President Trump’s Iran policy and has also been a frequent critic of Israel’s conduct of the war. He previously introduced four resolutions aimed at blocking U.S. arms sales to Israel, but all four measures were defeated. Earlier this year, Sanders also urged the Senate to oppose the war and called for passage of a War Powers Resolution denying Trump authority to continue it.
The Vermont senator has also accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, employing the disputed characterization in describing Israel’s military campaign there.
Last July, Sanders sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., during which the Israeli leader met with President Trump.
{Matzav.com}
