AJC Statement on U.S.-Israel Military Action Against Iran

American Jewish Committee stands with the United States and Israel as they undertake targeted military action to stop the Iranian regime's global terror campaign. The world will be a safer place when the threat of the Iranian regime's illicit nuclear and missile programs, along with the IRGC, is dismantled once and for all. We hope today's military action is a decisive step toward fulfilling that vital mission.

The Iranian regime has, for decades, pursued policies that threaten U.S. interests, endanger Israel and our Arab partners, destabilize the broader Middle East, and undermine global security. Its relentless advancement of a nuclear program in defiance of international obligations, combined with its ballistic missile proliferation, sponsorship of terrorist proxies, and violent repression at home, has brought the region to this perilous moment.

AJC has supported the Trump administration's numerous attempts to reach a diplomatic solution and is grateful for the President's ironclad commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The regime, however, has repeatedly demonstrated that rather than engaging in good faith, it remained committed to pursuing its decades-long ambition to develop weapons of mass destruction. Such a capability would pose an existential threat not only to Israel, but to the entire Middle East, Europe, and the broader international order.

In addition to its nuclear ambitions, this regime has amassed a ballistic missile arsenal that it has repeatedly deployed - and has unleashed today - against Israel and our partners in the Gulf. Tehran has for decades been unwilling to curb its missile activity or seriously address this issue in previous negotiations.

Today's military action follows years of Iranian escalation, deception, and refusal to meet its international commitments - including the most recent inconclusive negotiations in Geneva. The responsibility for this crisis lies entirely with Tehran.

Let us not forget that the Iranian regime has continued to brutalize its own people during months of deadly response to those bravely raising their voices against repression. AJC stands in unwavering solidarity with the Iranian people in their desire for freedom.

The ultimate goal of today's action and what follows must remain unchanged: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, constraining its destabilizing regional activities, and advancing a future in which diplomacy - grounded in accountability and verification - can succeed where past efforts have failed.

The Iranian people deserve a government that prioritizes their welfare over confrontation and repression. The international community must remain focused not only on nuclear constraints, but also on Iran's ongoing human rights abuses and support for terror.

This is a sobering moment. The stakes for regional security, global nonproliferation, and civilian lives are extraordinarily high. AJC's thoughts and prayers are with U.S. and allied military personnel, American and allied civilians serving abroad, and with innocent civilians across the region who may now face heightened risk.

About American Jewish Committee (AJC)

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.