Socialist Labour is horrified by the combined attack by the USA and the State of Israel on Iran. This started as negotiations were continuing between the American and Iranian governments. We condemn the aggression by the USA and Israeli governments. We acknowledge and support the widespread protests in the US against the attack against Iran by the Trump government. 75% of Americans opposed the air strikes against Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The arguments for such an attack, namely the speculation that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and the need to change the “regime” to end its dictatorship and repression of the working people, are just excuses to gain support from the people. The war simply serves the US and Israel’s purposes of repression and dominance in the region.

Importantly, there is no evidence to support the accusation levelled against Iran of developing nuclear weapons, as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been able to confirm this. It would therefore be unfair to punish Iran for no just cause, as was the case with Iraq under Saddam Hussein, who the US wrongly accused of the same allegation years ago; an allegation later found to be false after the US and its allies had inflicted colossal damage on Iraq.

The USA arrogating undue power to herself, as if to play the role of the world’s police, is unacceptable. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations of the world entitle them to respect, in accordance with the UN Charter, which mandates that member states maintain peace and security.

It is unfortunate to note the attack’s fatal outcomes: at least two hundred people lost their lives in the midnight attack, including the Supreme Spiritual Head of the Islamic State of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior state leaders. This attack has led to a wider crisis in the region, as Iran has retaliated against other nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, targeting US military bases.

The economic crisis in Iran, which has made life difficult for working people, has been the source of the fightback and resistance by the Iranian people. This resistance has taken the form of protests against the state. Last week, for instance, the people of Iran again took to the streets. They held protests in their universities after beginning to recover from the bloody repression of their earlier protests. And thousands of people were reported to have been killed in the government’s recent crackdown.

Trump claims to support the protesters in Iran, a claim no one can take at face value, given his anti-poor and undemocratic policies at home and abroad. His attacks on Iran will only weaken the segments within the opposition that struggle for a democratic Iran, as there will now be huge pressure to rally around the new government in Iran, giving it more freedom to repress dissent in the coming period.

As socialists, we equally call for a democratic environment in Iran, as it is within this that the working people can fight for their rights and better living conditions. Our solidarity, therefore, goes to the Iranian workers, students, and ordinary people who resist both imperialist aggression and the repressive state at home.

The USA government, led by Trump, defends Israel, a settler apartheid state that treats Palestinians as second-class citizens. Israel, fully backed by the US, has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, settlers continue to harass and intimidate the local Palestinian population with full support from the Israeli security services. Actors such as these cannot be taken seriously as defenders of the poor people of Iran.

Moreover, it is complete hypocrisy for two nuclear-armed powers to deny the Iranian Government the right to develop its nuclear technology.

Socialist Labour demands an immediate halt to the US/Israeli attacks on Iran. We express our solidarity with the Iranian people in their struggles for democracy and justice. We call on the Nigerian Government to end its co-operation with the US and Israeli security forces.

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