'We Apologize' for Trump's Reckless Aggression, US Peace Advocates Say in Open Letter to Iranian People

CodePink protesters at a Congressional hearing on Iran in 2015. (Photo: CodePink)

'We Apologize' for Trump's Reckless Aggression, US Peace Advocates Say in Open Letter to Iranian People

The letter, from activist group CodePink, comes ahead of peace demonstrations scheduled Saturday in 200 cities around the world.

The peace advocacy group CodePink is collecting American signatures for a letter apologizing to the Iranian people for U.S. aggression and warmaking, particularly President Donald Trump's decision on January 3 to order the assassination by drone strike of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani while Soleimani was in Iraq.

"As Americans committed to peace and the safety of all people, we, the undersigned, apologize for the actions of our reckless, hate-filled president," the letter says, "and pledge to do everything we can to stop Trump's aggression, remove the crippling sanctions you are suffering under, and resume a process of diplomacy with your country."

The U.S. and Iran have been in a Cold-War style conflict for decades, but the Soleimani assassination marked a notable escalation in tensions.

In a tweet about Saturday's demonstrations, CodePink cofounder Medea Benjamin warned that war was still a very real possibility.

"Think we avoided war with Iran a few weeks ago?" said Benjamin. "Think again. We are still on the brink."

CodePink's letter condemns in no uncertain terms the continuing conflict.

"The recent U.S. actions towards Iran are the most dangerous and provocative of all of Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions," reads the letter. "The assassination of Soleimani--ordered by President Trump and carried out on sovereign Iraqi soil--risked the safety of the entire world, set a dangerous precedent, and was likely illegal under international law."

The demonstrations, which are in 200 cities around the world, are set for Saturday. CodePink is joining more than 150 other sponsors for the event.

Find a protest near you here.

"Please accept our hand in friendship," says the letter. "May the peacemakers prevail over those who sow hatred and discord."

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.