FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 12, 2025
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Israel launched strikes on Iran. Rosemary Kelanic, Director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities, issued the following statement in response:
“Israel’s strike on Iran must not become the United States’ war. The U.S. public overwhelmingly opposes another military engagement in the Middle East for good reason—an open-ended military campaign in Iran would risk repeating the catastrophic mistakes of the 2003 war in Iraq, which inadvertently strengthened Tehran’s influence there. The top U.S. priority is to protect U.S. servicemembers and avoid another war of choice in the Middle East. President Trump should act swiftly to protect U.S. forces and distance them from any conflict—our regional military presence is highly vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.”
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