200+ groups urge Congress to block Trump nuclear strike on Iran

The groups, members of the Back From the Brink Coalition, said in a statement to lawmakers that Trump has repeatedly threatened to "hit Iran hard" after next week's midterm elections and that his recent statement ruling out nuclear weapons stands against a string of threats. They cited his warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" and his question about when to "blow the entire nation up," and urged Congress to assert its constitutional role as the only branch empowered to declare war.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said at the Middle East Institute this week that he had recently been briefed on "what the war plan would be if we restarted military operations" after the midterms and called the plan "insane," warning it would lead to devastating escalation. Iran's government, according to state-run Press TV, is holding a Civil Defense Week focused on "public preparedness, protecting people and national assets, and ensuring government support for the continuity of essential services." NIAC, which was not among the groups, said Trump's threats are "unconscionable" and that Congress must act to prevent further unauthorized military action and invest in regional diplomacy.