Yassamin Ansari, the first Iranian-American Democrat in Congress, says harassment and death threats against her family and staff have intensified since she spoke out against US military action in Iran and filed impeachment articles against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A Democratic member of the US House of Representatives has reported receiving serious threats to her personal safety and that of her family and staff after taking a strong anti-war position on the ongoing US conflict with Iran.
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-Arizona), whose parents fled the Islamic Republic of Iran, has become one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump’s military campaign in Iran, which began nearly two months ago. In a strongly worded statement released this week, she condemned what she described as “hateful rhetoric, lies, cruel and deliberate misinformation, and threats” directed at her since the war started.
“I fully condemn the hateful rhetoric, lies, cruel and deliberate misinformation, and threats that my family, my staff, and I have been subjected to since the Iran War began nearly eight weeks ago,” Ansari said. “These coordinated attacks and threats have only continued to worsen, most recently after I introduced Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth.”
Ansari, who represents Arizona’s 3rd congressional district and was sworn into Congress in January 2025 as the youngest woman in the 119th Congress, has described the war as “illegal” and accused the Trump administration of violating the US Constitution and international law. She has also highlighted the human cost to Iranian civilians and the financial burden on American taxpayers.
Support from fellow Democrats:
Several Democratic colleagues have rallied to Ansari’s defence, condemning the threats and praising her courage for speaking out on behalf of constituents who largely oppose the war.
Rep. Greg Stanton, another Arizona Democrat, said Ansari has shown “extraordinary courage in standing up for the Iranian people” throughout the conflict. Other lawmakers have echoed that public servants and their families should not face threats for doing their jobs.
Ansari has noted that more than 75 percent of her constituents in Arizona oppose the war, pointing to rising domestic concerns such as increasing gas prices and the deployment of US troops.
US Lawmaker Faces Threats Amid Deep Divisions Over Iran War:
The threats against Ansari come amid heightened political polarisation in the United States over the Iran conflict. Critics of the administration, including some within Congress, have raised questions about the legality of the military action, its strategic objectives, and the potential for wider regional escalation.
Ansari has rejected any suggestion of disloyalty, reaffirming her commitment to American values and her opposition to the Iranian government.
“It is in part why I am who I am today: A proud American speaking out for human rights and democracy,” she said in her statement.
As the conflict enters its third month, with reports of civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, and mounting US military costs, voices like Ansari’s have highlighted the deep divisions within American politics over foreign military engagements.
The congresswoman has vowed to continue her work “with integrity and transparency,” despite the personal toll.