Trump Must Not Be Allowed to Use Gulf of Oman Incidents as 'Pretext for Illegal War With Iran': Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders responded on Friday to president Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran was behind Thursday’s suspected attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman with a call for restraint against pursing what he said would be a dangerous and “illegal” war against the country.

“Attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman are unacceptable and must be fully investigated,” the Vermont Independent and 2020 president hopeful said in a statement. “But this incident must not be used as a pretext for a war with Iran, a war which would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States, Iran, the region, and the world.”

“The time is now for the United States to exert international leadership,” Sanders continued, “and bring the countries in the region together to forge a diplomatic solution to the growing tensions.”

The Trump administration late Thursday released video footage that it claimed proved that Iran was behind the alleged attacks, though the Japanese owner of one of the tankers on Friday appeared to contradict the White House narrative.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday also claimed, without evidence, that Iran was behind not only Thursday’s alleged oil tanker attacks but other “recent similar… attacks on shipping.”