statement

Not Another War: The Iran Deal Is Working

The General Secretary responds to President Trump pulling the United States from the Iran Nuclear Deal.


We are deeply disappointed by President Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Iran Deal. Even though we are disappointed, The United Methodist Church will continue to support diplomacy as an effective tool for peacebuilding around the world. As followers of the Prince of Peace, we can do no less.

The facts show that the Deal is working, and the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to verify the efficacy of the safeguards in fulfillment of the terms of the Deal. The Deal put in place international safeguards and procedures to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China stand by the Deal, and strongly oppose the decision to pull the U.S. out of the Deal.

Reinstating sanctions on Iran is concerning on many levels, but most pressing: it will worsen living conditions for the Iranian people. Further, the call for regime change of the Iranian government by high-ranking U.S. officials has all the markings of comments leading to war. The words of President Trump today are very similar to sentiments the public heard in the lead up to the Iraq war. We must not allow that to become reality.

We are encouraged that the other signers, including Iran, have signaled a commitment to working together for the continued implementation of the Deal.

The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state “the first moral duty of all nations is work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between and among nations” ¶165C.

The Iran Nuclear Deal is a concrete step forward to ensure peace with Iran is not illusory, but a reality. We continue to pray for peace, wisdom, and an increased priority for diplomacy with Iran and among nations across the world.