No US appetite for war with Iran: Pelosi

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Democrats demand answers on Trump approach to Iran

WASHINGTON, June 20, (Agencies): US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday the United States has no appetite to go to war with Iran, after Tehran shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf region. Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, told reporters that 20 lawmakers will receive a briefing to learn more about the incident.

“I think it’s a dangerous situation,” Pelosi said. “We have to be strong and strategic about how we protect our interests. We also cannot be reckless in what we do, so it will be interesting to see what they have to say. “I don’t think the president wants to go to war. There’s no appetite for going to war in our country.” Iran on Thursday shot down a US military drone it said was on a spy mission over its territory but Washington said the aircraft was targeted in international air space in “an unprovoked attack.” Pelosi said tensions were high in the region and worried that “a miscalculation on either side could provoke something very bad.”

Democratic lawmakers demanded clarity Wednesday about the Trump administration’s position on the use of military force as they sought answers on how the White House plans to address rising tensions with Iran. The lawmakers specifically pointed to what they called tenuous links between Iran and al-Qaeda that they fear the administration could use to justify a military attack under an authorization granted by Congress after the Sept 11 attacks.
The US special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that questions about the authorization would be better answered by a lawyer. But he added, “If the use of military force is necessary to defend US national security interests, we will do everything that we are required to do with respect to congressional war powers and we will comply with the law.” Rep Ted Deutch, D-Fla, referenced Pompeo’s testimony to Congress in April, when he said, “There is no doubt there is a connection between the Islamic Republic of Iran and al-Qaeda.” Pompeo continued: “They have hosted al-Qaeda. They have permitted al-Qaeda to transit their country.”

Sen Marco Rubio of Florida, who sits on both the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, said he does believe there is a link between Iran and al-Qaeda. But he also said the authorization Democratic lawmakers are referencing is “irrelevant” because it would not be needed “to respond to an attack, and to prevent one if it’s imminent.” The Trump administration and Iran have said they are not seeking war, but many lawmakers fear that as the US builds up its forces in the region, it increases the chances of the two sides being accidentally drawn into a conflict.

Hook also delivered a classified briefing on Iran to a group of senators Wednesday. Senators exiting the room declined to reveal details, but said it covered intelligence linking Iran to a recent attack on tankers as well as wider US policy in the region. Sen Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, said members asked about what’s next and what American allies are thinking. Hook told the House committee that Trump’s Iran policy has so far been successful and it is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table. “No one should be uncertain about our desire for peace or our readiness to normalize relations should we reach a comprehensive deal,” he said. “We have put the possibility of a much brighter future on the table for the Iranian people.” The Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran under president Barack Obama and began imposing layers of punishing sanctions on Tehran that have strangled its economy.

The US blames Iran for a number of attacks against US or Western interests in the Middle East over the past few months, including on tankers near the Arabian Gulf and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks. Lawmakers, Democrats in particular, question whether the administration’s so-called maximum pressure campaign is really a recipe for war. “Rather than force Iran back to the negotiating table, the administration’s policy is increasing the chances of miscalculation, which then would bring the United States and Iran closer to a military conflict,” Deutch said.

Hook responded by saying Iran has chosen to use military force despite Trump’s Iran policy largely relying on diplomatic and economic tools like sanctions. “Our policy is at its core an economic and diplomatic one. But Iran has not responded to this in a diplomatic fashion, it has responded to it with violence. We very much believe that Iran should meet diplomacy with diplomacy, not with terror, bloodshed and extortion,” he said.

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