CND condemns the escalation in the illegal war on Iran. The US has now carried out over 12 days of repeated bombing of this country, targeting bridges, power plants and desalination plants that supplies water to 10,000 people across many villages. In retaliation Iran has targeted US bases in countries including Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. Since the start of the war in February, over 3,000 Iranians have been killed and 17 US troops.
Trump is now threatening to bomb more civilian infrastructure to hold the people of Iran to ransom over the Strait of Hormuz. He continues to argue that the military attacks are also to stop a nuclear threat from Iran and he is once again threatening to bomb Iran’s Natanz nuclear facilities. But back in February, before the US / Israeli bombing campaign re-started this year, Iran agreed to rule out any enrichment of uranium – meaning it would not develop a nuclear bomb. In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US and Iran in June, Iran agreed to ‘dilute’ its enriched uranium again, clearly ruling out any intention to develop a nuclear bomb.
Back in June 2025 when the US and Israel first bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Authority, Rafael Grossi, stated that ‘…any armed attack … against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency.”
Given the worsening situation, the British government should be doing everything it can to de-escalate the situation. However, new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has agreed to recommit British bases of Diego Garcia and Fairford to the US administration in its illegal war.
Burnham is repeating Starmer’s arguments that the bases will only being used defensively, to try and avoid taking responsibility for his actions. But giving permission for the use of the bases, is actively assisting the Trump administration, which is breaching international law and committing war crimes.
Public opinion is totally against this decision. YouGov polling shows that even greater numbers now oppose the use of British bases for Trump’s illegal war on Iran than they did in March – with opposition up by 9% to 58%.
Bases like Fairford have been absolutely central in Trump’s war. It is the only base in Europe that deadly US bombers can use. During March of this year, US B1 bombers at Fairford carried out twice- daily bombing missions of Iran using 2,000lb bombs. These bombers are still stationed at the base, carrying out military exercises in preparation for war.
We need to take action against this illegal war on Iran which is costing even more lives, dragging the Middle East further into devastating conflict and creating a global economic crisis.
We call on Burnham to stand up to Trump and pull the plugs on these bases. He can’t facilitate US war crimes.
We must stop these bombers at Fairford being used in Trump’s illegal war on Iran.
That is why CND is calling a demonstration at RAF Fairford on Saturday 15 August.