Global Ministries Statement on Israeli Attack on Iran
Early in the morning on Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched a major “pre-emptive” strike against Iran, targeting the capital city, Teheran, military bases, nuclear facilities, and private residential areas, killing Iranian senior officials, as well as private citizens, according to reports.
The attack comes just days before the US and Iran were set to resume negotiations aimed to reach a new treaty on Iran’s nuclear program. Israel’s provocative and dangerous attack likely reduces the potential of any progress on such an agreement, and is an egregious escalation of Israel’s regional war that already has expanded beyond its genocide of Palestinians to include Lebanon, occupation of southern Syria, and Yemen.
In recent days, there have been conflicting signals – signs of hope that the US and Iran were moving closer toward a new nuclear treaty, with the special US envoy scheduled to arrive in Iran on Sunday for talks, contrasted with the US withdrawal earlier this week of non-essential diplomatic and military personnel from the region amid reported tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demonstrated consistent belligerency toward Iran for more than ten years, doing everything possible to scuttle US and global negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, including speaking against it at the United Nations and in the US Congress. He opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was reached between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and Iran in 2015, with US leadership. During his first term, President Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA despite indicators that Iran was complying. Pres. Trump favored seeking a “better deal,” despite his own belligerency toward Iran and its leaders. Our churches have opposed military escalation, spoken against assassinations, and been critical of “maximum pressure” sanctions, while supporting negotiations to reach resolution.
Today’s Israeli attack, while not altogether surprising, is dangerous, reckless, and risks rapid escalation between Iran and Israel, and possibly other regional actors. It would draw the US into Israel’s regional war even more deeply, and it will surely endanger the lives and livelihoods of even more innocent people in the Middle East.
Reiterating our statement of Sept. 30, 2024, “This war, now being fought on many fronts, must end. As people of faith with a commitment to justice and peace, we call on world leaders to attend to the escalation of Israel’s aggression in the region. We join the voices in the global community calling for ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the operation in the West Bank, and for an immediate de-escalation of this intensifying crisis in Lebanon and Yemen [and now Iran]. We condemn Israel’s provocative campaign of assassinations.”
That is true now as it was then. In these days, we call on the US to use its leverage to halt Israel’s aggression in the region and redouble its efforts to seek a peaceful negotiated resolution with Iran; and to press for an urgent end to Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, seeking to address the core issues so that a permanent, just and lasting peace may prevail.
Global Ministries remains steadfast in our commitment to laboring for peace with justice. We urge our faithful members to contact elected officials to convey this message, and to press for an immediate de-escalation. Our fervent prayers and our continued efforts seek an end to war and destruction of life, and the richness of life and dignity for all God’s children.
Rev. Shari Prestemon
Acting Associate General Minister
United Church of Christ
Co-Executive, Global Ministries
Rev. Dr. LaMarco A. Cable
President & CEO
Disciples Overseas Ministries
Co-Executive, Global Ministries
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