Remarks on the lack of justification for the Iran war
U.S. Senator, Michigan; Ranking Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
“The president needs to protect us, and we want him or her to do that if there's an imminent threat. But that didn't occur here as far as we can see, there's no evidence.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Michigan Public report on the state's congressional delegation reacting to the strikes on Iran, quoting Sen. Gary Peters saying there was no evidence of an imminent threat and calling Republican colleagues 'a rubber stamp to the president.'
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Days after the February 28, 2026 strikes began, Peters spoke to Michigan Public's Stateside on March 3 and questioned Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby at a March 4 Senate Armed Services hearing. Peters is retiring; his seat is contested by Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers.
After the quotation
Peters voted yea on H.Con.Res. 86 on June 23. At a July 21 hearing he called Defense Secretary Hegseth a 'failure' and said the administration had created another 'forever war.'
How this statement is classified
Case context: Do they support the war in Iran?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Denies the war's stated justification (no imminent threat) and demands congressional oversight, a direct challenge to the war's legitimacy.
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Do they support the war in Iran?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“I am unequivocally against the war in Iran. For the question about a war powers resolution, yes, I would support it in the form you've mentioned.”Read statement
“As the first Command Master Chief and the first enlisted submariner to ever be a nominee for federal office, I have, by definition, a unique view. The war must end; it was unconstitutional from day one.”Read statement
“At the present time, I would vote for a war powers resolution to remove forces from Iran”Read statement