Iranian-American Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit Against Trump Over Unconstitutional War

A residential building in eastern Tehran, Iran, shows severe damage following a drone attack that killed one civilian on March 31, 2026. [File: Majid Saeedi/Getty]

A lawsuit has been filed against United States President Donald Trump by a group of Iranian Americans. The legal action requests that a court order an immediate halt to military operations against Iran, arguing that the actions violate constitutional war powers checks and inflict direct harm on them and their families.

The complaint was submitted to a Washington, DC, court on Thursday by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an advocacy group. According to the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by Al Jazeera, the ongoing conflict threatens to inflict indefinite and severe dangers to the lives, health, property, and basic necessities of both Iranians and the Iranian Americans represented by the organization.

The legal filing outlines the severe toll of the conflict—which has lasted for more than six months—on several members, including US citizens and a US Army veteran, as well as their relatives residing inside Iran. The lawsuit states that family members of some plaintiffs have been killed or injured in air strikes while inside their homes or performing everyday tasks.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs report experiencing significant hardships, including economic fallout from US sanctions, restricted access to essential healthcare, and travel challenges amid expanding restrictive measures. The complaint emphasizes that individuals remaining inside Iran face continuous danger because the administration of President Donald J. Trump is prosecuting the war without proper authorization or legal oversight.

Citing the lawsuit's figures, thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives due to US military actions in the conflict so far, leaving many others vulnerable.

“They are all in imminent danger of harm to their persons and properties proximately caused by the unconstitutional war waged by defendant President Donald J. Trump,” the legal document states.

In September, a United Nations fact-finding mission reported that the US likely committed “war crimes” in Iran, referencing air strikes that reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

“No President should have the power to take this country into an indefinite war by himself,” stated NIAC President Jamal Abdi in a Thursday statement. “This lawsuit asks a fundamental question: can one person decide, on his own, to keep an entire nation at war?”

The legal challenge follows remarks made on Tuesday by President Donald J. Trump at the United Nations General Assembly, where he indicated he was weighing whether to “annihilate” Iran should Tehran refuse to resume negotiations and secure a deal with the US to conclude the war.