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Tim Kaine: “It is an illegal war. It is an unwise war that demonstrates…”

Featuring: Tim Kaine, Democratic | U.S. Senate from Virginia

The Iran War Needs to End

Published May 12, 2026 | Video Starts at 13:27

I would say it's unwise, but I would be outvoted, as I am often on events and thus it wouldn't be illegal. It is an illegal war. It is an unwise war that demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of the deep tragic history between the US and Iran. And for that, to my colleague from Oregon, I strongly support your resolution. And Mr. President, I now yield. (13:27–13:40)

CLAIM

Asserts that the current US-Iran conflict is illegal and unwise.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Tim Kaine

“In 1953, the US through the CIA, engineered a coup. We toppled the democratic government [of Iran].”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 08:15-08:21
“We installed the Shah, a dictator. We funded the secret police of the Shah who tortured, exiled, imprisoned and killed thousands of…”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 08:21-08:31
“After Iran overtook our embassy, we funded Iraq to wage war on Iran. We gave Iraq funds, we gave Iraq intel.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 09:11-09:22
“In the late 1980s, a US Navy vessel, the Vincennes, shot down an Iranian commercial aircraft, killing 290 civilians.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 09:37-09:47
“The American public does not like being lied to by its government.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 00:15-00:18
“We were lied to about the war in Iraq. We were told that Iraq had something to do with 9/11. That was not true.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 01:26-01:32
“We were told that Iraq was pursuing nuclear weapons and had weapons of mass destruction they'd use against the United States. That was not…”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 01:27-01:32
“Most now agree 25 years later [the Iraq War] was a massive, massive mistake.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 01:47-01:52
“The United States is not being told the truth about the situation in Iran.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 02:01-02:08
“The administration is not even willing to share the legal rationale, the opinion developed by the Office of Legal Counsel at the State…”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 02:33-02:41
“In at least two instances, I believe the administration is not being truthful with the American public about this war.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 03:06-03:11
“The war is needed to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. No, it isn't.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 03:21-03:26
“We had stopped Iran from getting a nuclear weapon by a diplomatic deal that Donald Trump chose to tear up.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 03:26-03:34
“The White House has lied to the American public. And every time they say this war is justified to stop Iran's nuclear program, they are…”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 05:35-05:47
“The United States invaded Iran's next door neighbors to the east and west to topple their governments, Afghanistan and Iraq.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 09:52-10:00
“More war between the US and Iran is not an answer to anything. It hasn't been an answer to anything since 1953.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 12:55-13:04
“We should not be at war without a vote of Congress.”
The Iran War Needs to End | Uploaded May 12, 2026 | 13:09-13:12