Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

“Iran’s malign activities in Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere in the region, and the Iranian regime’s hateful rhetoric against our ally, Israel, are dangerous. At the same time, recent statements and actions taken by the Administration have heightened my concern of a cycle of escalation with Iran – one that could put us on the path to a war that would be destabilizing, costly, and contrary to our national interest. It is precisely because of my belief that we must contain Iranian influence that we must resist any actions that undermine our efforts or weaken the support we need from our allies to confront Iran.

“A series of steps taken by the Administration, including tightening sanctions on Iranian oil exports, designating the IRGC as terrorist organization, and now the positioning of military assets in the region for the express purpose of deterring Iranian actions will heighten tensions with Iran and may provoke a response. These steps come just one year after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, an agreement that has successfully constrained the Iranian nuclear program, and increased the likelihood that Iran may simply withdraw from the agreement altogether and return to the enrichment of uranium. The Administration has developed no plans for this contingency, nor articulated how an Iranian withdrawal from the JCPOA would improve our national security or the national security of our allies, or diminish the likelihood of armed conflict. In all likelihood, it would make conflict more probable, not less.

“Finally, I would remind the Administration of the simple fact that Congress alone has the authority to declare war. Senior administration officials, most recently Secretary Pompeo, have suggested that the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force against al-Qaeda and those who conducted the 9/11 attacks might provide a legal basis for action against Iran. Quite plainly, it does not. John Bolton’s views on Iran are well-known – if President Trump does not wish to stumble into a new and devastating military conflict, I hope that he will listen to the counsel of other advisors and seek to reduce tensions."