Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego urges President Trump to exercise caution over Israel-Iran war

PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego hopes President Donald Trump treads carefully when addressing the Iran-Israel conflict.

“Most Americans do not want another direct involvement war, especially someone like me who suffered the consequences of a very bad war: the Iraq war,” Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos on Monday.

Gallego, a Democrat and Marine Corps veteran, said that while he doesn’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, he hopes the U.S. will focus more on diplomatic solutions.

Details about the Israel-Iran conflict

On Monday, Iranian forces launched missiles at U.S. forces at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base. It was Tehran’s response to Trump ordering strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend.

“I’m against bombing Iran until I know full details about exactly what was the reasoning we had to do it right now,” Gallego said. “Explain to me why we gave up on the option of having a peaceful outcome through diplomatic means to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.”

Hours after Iran struck U.S. forces, Trump announced on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.

Ruben Gallego comments on Trump’s involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

Gallego said he wished Trump would have consulted more members of Congress before taking action in Iran.

“I think if he heard from some members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans … we would have told them that this is probably not an imminent threat, we can continue to negotiate, and the American public does not want us involved in another war in the Middle East,” Gallego said. “He should have come and talked to us.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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