1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any authorization for war with Iran following the U.S. air strikes on Tehran and other Iranian locations on Saturday, February 28, 2026. This military escalation has already resulted in devastating civilian casualties and threatens to destabilize the entire region. The strikes killed at least 53 students when a missile hit a girl's elementary school in Minab city in Hormozgan province. Terrified children fled classrooms across Tehran as residents scrambled for shelter without any warning from their government. These are the human costs of military action that cannot be justified, particularly when diplomatic alternatives were actively being pursued. Iran's foreign ministry confirmed that Tehran was in the middle of diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. aimed at preventing war when the strikes occurred. Oman's foreign minister, who mediated indirect U.S.-Iran talks just days before the attack, flew to Washington believing progress had been made in negotiations. Abandoning diplomacy for military action when peaceful resolution appeared possible represents a catastrophic failure of policy. The regional consequences are already severe. Iran has declared all U.S. and Israeli interests in the region as legitimate targets and launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. An Iranian airstrike hit the U.S. naval base in Bahrain, home to the Fifth Fleet. Jordan shot down two ballistic missiles, and shrapnel from an intercepted missile in the UAE killed a civilian in Abu Dhabi. Most U.S. Arab allies warned against these strikes, recognizing they could destabilize the entire region. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the President must obtain Congressional authorization for military action within 60 days unless Congress has declared war or specifically authorized the use of force. These strikes were conducted without Congressional approval, and any continued military operations require your explicit authorization. I urge you to assert Congress's constitutional authority over war-making decisions and refuse to provide a blank check for expanded military action. War with Iran will not bring stability or security. It will cost American and Iranian lives, drain resources needed at home, and create chaos throughout the Middle East. I urge you to vote against any authorization for continued military operations and instead support renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate this crisis.