FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 19 June 2025

BAY AREA IRANIAN-AMERICAN DEMOCRATS (BAIAD)

NO STRIKES, NO WAR - CHOOSE DIPLOMACY, PROTECT LIVES

Israel’s large‑scale air‑ and cyber‑strikes deep inside Iran—carried out without a UN Security‑Council mandate and far beyond any claim of immediate self‑defense—risk plunging the region into a chaotic bloodbath and could drag the United States into another costly conflict. We likewise denounce Iran’s reckless retaliation—firing rockets at non‑military targets in Israel—which further imperils innocent lives and fuels an ever‑deadlier cycle of escalation. This is a war of choice that threatens peace and diplomacy alike.

THE HUMAN COST OF ESCALATION

• Iran : Strikes on crowded cities such as Tehran and Isfahan have already killed or injured hundreds of civilians, damaged essential infrastructure, and driven families from their homes. Continued bombardment could push casualties into the thousands and create a full‑scale humanitarian disaster.

• Israel : Retaliatory rocket salvos—whose victims have been overwhelmingly civilian—have struck apartment blocks, transit hubs, and, most recently, a regional hospital, placing ordinary Israelis in constant danger and eroding prospects for lasting security.

• United States & Region : A wider war would endanger U.S. personnel and neighboring populations while siphoning resources urgently needed for education, health care, and climate resilience at home. Nearly 7,000 U.S. troops and hundreds of thousands of regional civilians died in Iraq and Afghanistan—trillions of dollars spent with few promised goals achieved. We must not repeat those mistakes.

PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE US

BAIAD has consistently condemned the Islamic Republic’s human‑rights abuses and destabilizing actions. Yet no grievance justifies warfare that punishes entire populations. As progressive Democrats, we draw hard lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan: vast human loss, staggering costs, and unfulfilled promises of stability. Real security rests on diplomacy, accountability, and respect for international law—not on repeating wars that exact enormous human and economic tolls.

BAIAD THEREFORE CALLS FOR

1. Immediate diplomacy : The Administration must press all parties for an immediate cease‑fire and a credible diplomatic track.
   
   

2. Congressional guardrails : Pass the bipartisan War‑Powers bills now before both chambers—the Kaine‑Young bill (S. 3275) in the Senate and Rep. Ro Khanna’s resolution (H.J.Res. 98) in the House—to ensure any future U.S. military action receives explicit authorization.
   
   

3. California leadership : Senators Padilla and Butler, and Bay‑Area Representatives Liccardo, Khanna, Lee, Lofgren, Matsui, Panetta, Pelosi, and Swalwell should cosponsor these measures and speak out unequivocally against escalation.
   
   

4. State & local action : California legislators and county boards should adopt resolutions supporting diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and opposition to unauthorized U.S. involvement.
   
   

5. Grass‑roots engagement : Community members are urged to contact elected officials to
   • oppose new offensive weapons transfers,
   • support robust humanitarian aid and reconstruction for all civilians affected, and
   • defend the civil rights of Iranian‑, Jewish‑, and all vulnerable Americans.
   
   

Choosing diplomacy over destruction is both a moral imperative and the pragmatic path to a just peace for Iranians, Israelis, Americans, and all peoples of the region. BAIAD stands ready to work with allies across the political spectrum who share this vision.

ABOUT BAIAD

Founded in 2004, the Bay Area Iranian‑American Democrats (BAIAD) is a 100 % volunteer, chartered Democratic club serving Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. We promote progressive values—social justice, responsibility, and fairness—through education, civic engagement, and grassroots activism. Our stance is rooted in universal human rights; we have consistently spoken out against the Islamic Republic’s abuses while opposing war and collective punishment of civilians.

Learn more at www.baiad.org