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'This is the kind of thing that leads to war' | Sen. Kaine calls for de-escalation after Iran shoots down US drone

Kaine says he attributes much of the blame for rising tensions on President Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' campaign.

WASHINGTON -- Tension between Tehran and Washington escalated once again early Thursday morning, after Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. surveillance drone. 

WUSA9 spoke with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), to get his response to the incident, since he's a member of the Armed Forces Committee.

"This is the kind of thing that leads to war," Kaine said. "And it's important that we step back."

Kaine, a common critic of President Trump, said he attributes much of the blame for rising tensions on the president's "Maximum Pressure" campaign, which he said cornered Iran into desperate action.

"We've imposed sanctions against Iran," Kaine said. "Where they can't get their own energy out. And if you do that, and you say 'we're not letting you ship your own energy out,' are you really surprised when they're trying to de-stabalize others." 

Kaine said he's in support of an international coalition, to deal with the issue of Iran, and said military action should be the last resort. 

"I'm very nervous that the escalations we're seeing in the Middle East could put the U.S. into another war that's completely unnecessary," Kaine said.

RELATED: Trump: Iran made 'big mistake' in downing US drone

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