CMEP statement on President Trump’s Threats to Iran

Washington DC, April 07, 2026: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) expresses alarm and condemnation of recent statements by President Trump threatening catastrophic violence against Iran, including rhetoric suggesting that “a whole civilization will die tonight.” Such language, evoking the destruction of an entire people, stands in direct opposition to the core tenets of the Christian faith, which call us to uphold the sanctity of life, pursue peace, and recognize the inherent dignity of every human being.

We are further dismayed by continued threats to target civilian infrastructure. Under international humanitarian law, the deliberate targeting of civilian systems, such as power plants, bridges, water systems, and medical facilities, constitutes a war crime. The consequences of such actions would be devastating and indiscriminate. Millions of civilians, including the elderly, children, and those receiving hospital care, would suffer immediate and long-term harm. Infants in incubators, patients reliant on life-saving medical equipment, and communities dependent on functioning sanitation systems would face life-threatening conditions.

As Christians and people of good will, we are called to be peacemakers, not agents of harm and violence. We affirm that every life is sacred and that no political objective can justify threats of mass violence against civilian populations. We urge all leaders to reject rhetoric and actions that endanger innocent lives and instead commit to diplomacy, de-escalation, and the pursuit of just and lasting peace. CMEP calls on U.S. officials, faith leaders, and people of conscience everywhere to speak out against threats and actions that violate international law, and to uphold the principles of justice, human dignity, and the protection of all civilians.