Council: Front and Center: April 26, 2026

TRUMP SAYS USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN IRAN IS OFF THE TABLE

We will soon enter our third month of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran with no clear off-ramps in sight. On April 21, President Donald Trump unliterally extended a ceasefire with Iran for an indefinite period of time as scheduled negotiations in Pakistan were put on hold. The peace talks were planned for last week but abandoned at the last minute as Iranian officials accused the United States of acting in bad faith and U.S. officials calling for a “unified proposal” for peace from Iran.

Despite what should be welcome news of the extension, the status of the Strait of Hormuz remains tense and uncertain with reports that both the United States and Iran continue to block operations. Iranian officials continue to criticize the U.S. Navy blockade, maintaining that it could be considered an act of war against Iran and not in the spirit of the ceasefire. Early Thursday morning, President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian vessels placing mines in the vital waterway. Pakistani officials continue to encourage diplomatic engagement though no date for renewed discussions has been released.

On April 23, for the first time during the current war, President Trump explicitly ruled out the use of nuclear weapons in Iran, stating “No, I wouldn’t use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.” This is a welcome development, of course, and we agree a nuclear weapon should never be used by anyone, but it would perhaps be easier to believe had he not recently made genocidal threats about destroying the entire Iranian civilization, as he did earlier this month.

FURTHER: Senior Policy Director John Erath spoke with BBC News Brasil about the war and the need for diplomacy. Research Analyst Connor Murray spoke with CNN about the dangers of non-nuclear experts leading nuclear negotiations. Erath spoke with North Dakota-based Valley News Live about nuclear threats to the United States in light of the conflict with Iran.

NEW NUKES OF HAZARD PODCAST: QUESTIONS CONGRESS’S ONLY PHYSICIST STILL HAS ABOUT IRAN

On the Center‘s latest Nukes of Hazard podcast episode, just out yesterday, Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11), the only PhD physicist in Congress, offers clarity on common misconceptions about Iran’s nuclear program. A fierce advocate for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal, Rep. Foster explains what he would like to see in a potential new deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program and what questions he’s still demanding answers to from the Trump administration. Listen online now or search for “Nukes of Hazard” wherever you get your podcasts.

LEGISLATORS FAIL TO CONSTRAIN TRUMP’S WAR, MAY AUTHORIZE IT SOON

The fifth attempt to constrain the Trump administration’s war in Iran failed last week, largely along party lines. Now, we may see a Senate resolution to authorize military force against Iran on the floor soon. According to Time, “Many lawmakers in both parties have pointed to May 1 [the 60-day mark since the administration formally notified Congress of the strikes] as both a legal inflection point and a moment of reckoning for the legislative branch: They can either end the war or give it a stamp of approval to continue indefinitely.”

Several senators, reportedly led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), are hoping to authorize military force against Iran beyond the deadline as long as they see greater information sharing by the White House regarding its strategic goals and plans for ending the conflict.

Council for a Livable World has been clear with all candidates seeking our endorsement: support for this war is a deal-breaker.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN TIERNEY ON WAR, PENTAGON SPENDING, NUCLEAR THREATS AND MORE

Executive Director and former Congressman John Tierney was the featured guest on the April 15 episode of Rep. Mark Pocan’s (D-WI-02) podcast, With Liberty and Justice for Some. The two discuss the war in Iran, how Congress should act on critical nuclear policy issues and the Trump administration’s outrageous Pentagon spending request. (Rep. Pocan’s constituents in Madison spent more than $100 million to fund nuclear weapons programs last fiscal year. How much did your community spend? Find out.)

FRENCH PLAN TO EXPAND NUCLEAR ARSENAL, SHIFT TO FORWARD DETERRENCE, BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

The French-led efforts to increase their nuclear arsenal continue as they add allies to their new “forward deterrence” plan. France remains the only country in the European Union with a nuclear capability, and European interests are beginning to look to it as a potential, though problematic, nuclear umbrella. EU trust in the United States is deteriorating due to President Donald Trump’s verbal attacks on NATO, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and concerns over defense and proliferation related to the war in Iran.

Countries such as Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Poland have joined France in addressing concerns about European deterrence. The Finnish government is also taking steps to aid NATO’s nuclear build-up by proposing to remove legislation that bans the transport of nuclear weapons, as well as supply or possession in Finland.

At a summit between Polish and French leaders, negotiations were held on furthering nuclear cooperation between the countries. Poland’s defense concerns have increased due to the pressure from Russian attacks on Ukraine, as Poland shares borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. During the talks, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated: “We live in a world in which we need nuclear dissuasion capacities.” These talks included discussions of the eventual proliferation of French warheads in Poland as well as a bolstered bilateral defense cooperation plan between the two countries in the upcoming years.

Coming soon: a new Nukes of Hazard podcast episode on France’s nuclear announcement, its global implications for nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and how U.S. policymakers should respond.

NORTH KOREA HAS MADE ‘VERY SERIOUS’ NUCLEAR ADVANCES

Last Sunday, North Korea reportedly test-launched ballistic missiles with conventional cluster bomb warheads off of its eastern coast. This is the second test this month with analysts believing this to be perhaps an expression of the country’s renewed push to expand its nuclear delivery capabilities in response to ongoing developments in the U.S. war in Iran, and a leverage-building tool ahead of a potential diplomatic window opened by the planned meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi in May.

This most recent test follows the April 15 warnings from International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi that “North Korea has made ‘very serious’ advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a new uranium enrichment facility, as it stepped up activity at a key complex.”

UKRAINE TARGETS RUSSIAN OIL ASSETS AMIDST IRAN-RELATED SANCTIONS WAIVERS

Due to the War in Iran and the effect on the Strait of Hormuz, Russia has had a major surge in oil revenue, which is helping fund its illegal war on Ukraine. The United States has granted sanctions waivers on Russian oil to stabilize the economy amid rising global oil prices. These sanctions were put into place after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a war that is now entering its fifth year with no ceasefire or resolution. These sanctions were lifted a few days after Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent promised that the United States would not renew the general license on Russian oil amid the war in Iran. Ukraine is responding by attacking Russian oil assets.

Earlier in April, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a 32-hour temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Easter; however, both sides accused each other of violating the agreement. Peace deals continue to stall due to the war in Iran, with negotiations over territorial agreements proceeding at an extremely slow pace.

ON THE PASSING OF CHAIRMAN EMERITUS ROBERT GARD

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge and mourn the loss of Lt. General Robert Gard, who had served as Chairman Emeritus of the Center‘s Board of Directors since 2015 after many years of offering his expertise in various capacities.

Gard had a celebrated military career, serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and helping manage the Pentagon Papers that revealed the systematic cover-up of U.S. military atrocities in Vietnam. After his retirement from the military, he began a career in academia, followed by a stint as a national security consultant, including with the Center. He became the Center‘s Senior Military Fellow, then served on the board and became chairman, all while offering guidance that helped the Center become the organization it is today.

“General Gard was a good man and a strong advocate for nuclear restraint,” said John Tierney, Executive Director. “My thoughts are with his loved ones and the undoubtedly thousands of people whose careers and lives he touched. We will miss his kindness, wisdom and candor.”

MORE ENDORSED CANDIDATES COMING SOON

So far, we have endorsed 15 candidates for this cycle, with more coming soon. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce additional new candidates from across the country who can inject some much-needed leadership and opposition to the Trump administration’s heinous policies.

Consider supporting Council-endorsed candidates today and help us shape the leadership in the next Congress.

For the next 7 months, we’ll list all of our endorsed candidates at the bottom of this newsletter along with their bios and donation links. If you’d like to donate to more than one House candidate or more than one Senate candidate, or donate to one or more candidates in each chamber, bookmark these links, which we’ll update through November every time we make a new endorsement: all endorsed House candidates | all endorsed Senate candidates | all endorsed candidates.

CONSIDER BECOMING A MONTHLY DONOR

As election season nears, the Council is also hard at work on its advocacy on Capitol Hill. Have you considered making a monthly donation to support our efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear threats through political action? You can donate as little as $1 a month. Become a monthly supporter today!

2026 ENDORSED CANDIDATES