Many Americans and Christians continue to rightfully express concern at the ongoing conflict against Iran, with one poll recently suggesting 60% of the country opposes the usage of military force.
While the operation appears to have achieved its military objectives, the civilian carnage has been tragic: One Middle East human rights organization estimated nearly 1,600 Iranian civilians already have been killed by Israeli or American strikes. Additionally, residential areas, universities, schools, bridges, electric plants and nuclear facilities have been attacked, resulting in illegal damage against civilian targets.
President Donald Trump is threatening even further attacks against civilian targets, especially in a vulgar Easter post on Truth Social. Iran’s attacks against civilian targets across the Middle East also are deplorable and deserve condemnation; however, such incidents do not invite the U.S. to follow in Iran’s footsteps.
Comments such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stating that “no quarter” will be given to America’s enemies represents the descent into a style of war utterly divorced from the morals and ideals the U.S. holds dear.
If America achieves its military goal of degrading Iran’s offensive capabilities while betraying its founding values, what does that prove? If the only way to victory involves destroying the culture, heritage and people of Iran, America loses its greatest strength, namely the moral high ground.
America should immediately end offensive operations against Iran, work together with its allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, offer emergency assistance to its Middle East allies to rebuild damage suffered from the war, and restart negotiations with the Iranian regime over its nuclear program. That is, if the war has not pushed Iran toward the very thing it was supposed to protect America from: the creation and production of an Iranian nuclear bomb.
Matthew Kolb, student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary