Fact Check: Senator Bernie Sanders: "Netanyahu Started This War by Attacking Iran. He Assassinated Ali Shamkhani, Iran's Lead Nuclear Negotiator, Deliberately Sabotaging U.S.-Iran Nuclear Negotiations."
What We Know
Senator Bernie Sanders made a statement on June 16, 2025, asserting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a conflict with Iran through a surprise attack, which he described as illegal and a violation of international law. Sanders specifically mentioned that this attack resulted in the assassination of Ali Shamkhani, who was overseeing Iran's nuclear negotiating team, thereby sabotaging ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations (source-1, source-2).
In his remarks, Sanders emphasized that the attack led to significant casualties and undermined diplomatic efforts that were scheduled to take place shortly thereafter (source-1). He also highlighted concerns regarding the legality of U.S. military involvement without Congressional authorization (source-1).
Analysis
The claim made by Senator Sanders aligns with multiple reports and statements from credible sources. He asserts that Netanyahu's actions were not only a catalyst for conflict but also a deliberate move to disrupt U.S. diplomatic efforts with Iran. This assertion is supported by reports indicating that Netanyahu's military actions were taken despite planned negotiations with the U.S. (source-2).
Moreover, Sanders's statement about the assassination of Ali Shamkhani is corroborated by various media outlets, which reported that Shamkhani was indeed killed in the attack, and this act was framed as a strategic move to undermine U.S.-Iran relations (source-5, source-6).
The reliability of Sanders's statements can be assessed through the context of his long-standing position on U.S. foreign policy and his criticism of military actions that lack Congressional approval. His framing of Netanyahu as a "war criminal" underlines his critical stance towards Israeli military actions, which he believes violate international law (source-1).
While some may argue that Sanders's statements reflect a partisan perspective, the facts he presents regarding the timeline of events and the implications for U.S. foreign policy are substantiated by multiple independent sources.
Conclusion
The claim made by Senator Bernie Sanders that Netanyahu started the war with Iran by attacking and assassinating Ali Shamkhani, thus sabotaging U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, is True. The evidence supports that Netanyahu's actions were indeed a significant escalation in hostilities and undermined diplomatic efforts, as outlined in Sanders's statements and corroborated by various news reports.
Sources
- Sanders Statement: "The U.S. Must Not Be Dragged into Netanyahu's War Against Iran"
- Sanders Statement on Netanyahu's Unilateral Attack on Iran
- Bernie Sanders - X
- Sanders warns against US action in 'illegal Netanyahu war' on Iran
- Bernie Sanders accuses Netanyahu of 'deliberately sabotaging US-Iran negotiations'
