Because: Unitarian Universalist Principles affirm the worth and dignity of every person, justice in human relations, and the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;

Whereas: Bombing Iran’s nuclear sites and military infrastructure would probably kill thousands, including many hundreds of civilians;

Whereas: Bombing sites belonging to the Quds wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or imposing a naval blockade would be an act of war and jeopardize settlement of the nuclear question, and a blockade would bring hardship to innocent civilians;

Whereas: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons affirms “the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop… nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination”;

Whereas: The Bush administration has failed to fulfill its commitment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty “to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament”;

Whereas: The National Intelligence Estimate issued in December 2007 states that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, while keeping the option open for the future;

Whereas: Direct diplomacy between the United States and Iran would be the most effective means of achieving peaceful compliance from Iran, and assurances from the United States that it will respect Iran’s security are essential in order to persuade Iran permanently to forgo a nuclear deterrent;

Whereas: Iran has an indispensable role to play in negotiations to curb sectarian violence in Iraq and curb wider war, and such negotiations are an essential part of an orderly withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq;

Whereas: An attack on Iran would undermine moderates within Iran and seem to vindicate the extremist and unacceptable statements of its current president about Israel and the United States, and it could increase terrorism in the Middle East and globally;

Whereas: War with Iran could disrupt world oil supply, with a severe impact on the U.S. economy; and

Whereas: Communities in the United States are suffering from severe cuts in social service funding because of spending on the Iraq war and can expect further cuts in the event of a war with Iran;

Therefore, be it resolved: The 2008 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association affirms the right of all nations and peoples of the region to peace and security and calls upon member congregations to urge Congress to

• prohibit the use of funds to attack Iran without specific congressional authorization and clarify that the 2002 congressional authorization to attack Iraq does not extend to Iran;
• discourage such an attack by an ally, and barring U.S. logistical support for it;
• urge Iran to cooperate with International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of its nuclear program;
• reject legislation calling for a blockade of Iran;
• ensure that information on Iran provided to the public by this administration is accurate; wupport negotiations for a nuclear weapons—free Middle East, as required by United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, and for the global abolition of nuclear weapons; and
• call for direct, unconditional, bilateral negotiations with Iran.