To the editor:

In 2015, during the Obama Administration, a historic peace treaty with Iran was achieved after 20 months of intensive negotiation. It insured that Iran, under rigorous inspections would refrain from developing a nuclear weapon. This was a remarkable diplomatic achievement, making the world a safer place.

In 2018, President Trump withdrew from this treaty and reimposed punishing sanctions even though Iran was in full compliance. This incomprehensible act destroyed 20 months of negotiation between 7 countries, eroded trust in the United States, and plunged the world back into danger and uncertainty. Predictably, the world grew concerned as Iran, no longer bound by the constraints of the treaty was now free to develop nuclear weapons.

In April 2025, renewed peace talks were derailed by Israeli and U.S. military strikes on Iran, killing its supreme leader and its top military personnel. Again, in February of 2026, peace talks were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran and Lebanon, igniting a war that lasted more than a month, followed by a very fragile ceasefire.

Besides the 11.3 billion dollars spent during just the first 6 days of this war, there are immeasurable human costs. Thousands of Iranian and Lebanese civilians have been killed, and our own military personnel are being ordered to give their lives for a questionable war.

Congress alone can stop this. Our legislators must act now.

Muriel Cohan,

Lawrence