EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is urging an end to the war with Iran, fearing that the Borderland could face worsening economic impacts as gas prices continue to rise. <\/p>\n
On Thursday, after a press conference where Escobar announced funding for several projects in El Paso, including water infrastructure and cancer research, among other economic projects, the congresswoman criticized the U.S. conflict with Iran, calling the Trump administration’s actions \u201cshameful\u201d and urging Congress to stop what she described as an illegal war, stating that President Donald Trump is doing Israel’s bidding.<\/p>\n
“The President went into Iran at the urging of Israel, which has been wanting any U.S. President willing to help them bomb Iran into oblivion,” Escobar said.<\/p>\n
Having said that, Escobar also condemned Iran’s leadership, saying, “Iran has been a tyrant in that region. The leadership is inhumane. They are effectively monsters who’ve gone after their own people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Escobar said that the administration’s negotiators lacked diplomatic tact, as “The vast majority of people being slaughtered right now by the U.S. and Israel are civilians.” <\/p>\n
However, Escobar also warned that the war will hurt people’s pockets and have broader global energy consequences, such as, “The eventual closure of a key artery that provides the world with natural resources, oil, that the world has come to depend on.” <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Fuel prices may keep rising as tensions persist with Iran, UTEP economist says<\/a><\/p>\n “The key artery” is the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n Tom Fullerton, economics professor from the University of Texas at El Paso, already warned that the war has shut off 90 percent of oil moving through that region, affecting the supply of oil worldwide. <\/p>\n “I think Americans can expect more of an economic spiral that is impacting people who already are struggling to make ends meet,\u201d Escobar said, adding, \u201cGas prices keep going up.\u201d<\/p>\n Escobar also tied those concerns to domestic energy policy, saying the administration eliminated funding for sustainable energy projects. <\/p>\n \u201cSo big solar projects that were planned in El Paso, gone,\u201d Escobar said. \u201cBig wind projects planned in other communities– gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo the president has made us even more dependent on oil, while at the same time jeopardizing the cost of oil, making sure that it goes up,\u201d she said. \u201cThe war needs to end.\u201d<\/p>\n Escobar noted lawmakers voted on a War Powers resolution that she supported, but it failed. <\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, we did not have enough Republicans vote with us in order to stop this war,\u201d Escobar said.<\/p>\n