RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
WHEREAS, The issues among the United States, Iran, and the world community have not proven to be irresoluble by traditional diplomatic efforts; and
WHEREAS, The United States and Iran currently have a fraught relationship that includes the seizure of more than 50 Americans as hostages in 1979, as well as the U.S.-supported removal of then-Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh from power in 1953 in favor ofthe continued, problematic leadership of authoritarian monarch Mohammad Reza Shah; and
WHEREAS, Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated significantly after the Trump Administration unilaterally withdrew from the multilateral nuclear deal framework involving Iran's nuclear program, which was supported by myriad experts, multiple U.S. allies, and members ofthe United Nations Security Council; and
WHEREAS, The Trump administration undermined the progress represented by that agreement by imposing needless new sanctions against Iran and escalating conflict with that nation; and
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump ordered the killing of a high-ranking government official of a sovereign nation without Congressional authorization and in contravention of international law; and
WHEREAS, Unilateral U.S. military actions in Iran would risk the deaths of thousands of Iranian civilians and not guarantee the safety and security of U.S. citizens; and
WHEREAS, A preventative U.S. military attack in Iran would violate international law and our commitments under the United Nations Charter and further isolate the United States from the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, Any U.S. military attack in Iran would undermine ongoing coalition work to minimize the power of ISIS, in part, by prompting the coalition against ISIS to suspend planning and operations in anticipation of escalating United States/Iranian tensions; and
WHEREAS, Any U.S. military attack in Iran would risk destabilizing Iraq as that country continues to rebuild its physical and economic infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, In January 2003, the City Council of Chicago adopted a resolution opposing a unilateral pre-emotive U.S. military attack against Iraq and urging the United States to instead
undertake diplomatic efforts to address the perceived problems with Iraq's weapons programs; and
WHEREAS, that conflict directly resulted in the deaths of approximately 700,000 civilians in Iraq according to studies by the Lancet and have resulted in the displacement of more than one million lraqis; and
WHEREAS, Researchers from Brown University estimate that post-September 11th military actions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Syria will have cost the United States approximately $6.4 trillion by the end of Fiscal Year 2020, while housing insecurity, lack of health care, and inadequate education opportunities have negatively impacted millions of Americans including veterans of these wars; and
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WHEREAS, Researchers from Brown University further estimate that, between March 2003 and October 2018, approximately 14,700 U.S. military and contractor personnel died as a direct result of U.S. military actions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, including more than 250 lllinoisans and more than two dozen Chicagoans; and
WHEREAS. Chicago is home to many refugees and immigrants from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, including heavily impacted minority groups such as Assyrians, Yazidis, Armenians, and Kurds;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the members ofthe City Council of the City of Chicago, oppose a U.S. military attack in Iran and increased military engagement in Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we support the consummation of a new agreement or a return to the existing agreement among the United States, other countries, and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we support the right to self-determination and freedom from all foreign interference for the people of Iran and Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we urge the United States to work through the United Nations Security Council and reaffirm our nation's commitment to the rule of law in all international relationships; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we urge the Mayor of the City of Chicago and the Governor ofthe State of Illinois to take active steps to work with the chief executives of other
cities and states to oppose any armed conflict with Iran or increased U.S. military presence in Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy ofthis resolution be forwarded to the members of the the Governor of the State of Illinois. Illinois Congressional delegation, and the President of the United States of America.