Reports are mounting that another illegal US military attack on Iran is imminent. Whilst the latest talks between the US and Iran over Iran’s nuclear programme appear to have been constructive, Trump is deploying even greater levels of military power to the Middle East. He has also repeated his threats of regime change for Iran, stating that ‘would be the best thing that could happen’.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has publicly repeated that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and stated it is willing to accept inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In return, it wants the crippling sanctions that are devastating its economy and population’s living standards to be lifted.
However, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, are also arguing that Iran should not be able to enrich uranium at all, which goes beyond the terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Additionally both nuclear-armed states are wanting Iran to dismantle its ballistic missile system. Iran has repeatedly made clear that it will not include its ballistic missile system in the negotiations. So there are growing concerns that these talks are being set up to fail in order to justify another large-scale illegal military attack by the US – and possibly Israel – against Iran.
Both the US and Israel have a track record for sabotaging diplomatic talks.
In June last year, whilst talks between the US and Iran were underway, Israel launched illegal military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US then launched a bombing raid using 30,000 lb ‘bunker buster’ bombs. Both illegal actions risked the release of deadly radioactivity and were condemned by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran retaliated with missiles attacks on Israel and strikes to Al Udeid US base in Qatar.
In 2018, Trump walked out of the pivotal Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) nuclear deal with Iran, refusing to lift sanctions when Iran had complied fully with the terms of the agreement.
It is also the height of nuclear hypocrisy, that nuclear-armed Israel – which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and refuses any inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency – is under no pressure to disarm its nuclear weapons.
The latest military build-up by the US would indicate that a large-scale attack on Iran is being prepared. Trump is now sending the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the region. There is also increased military activity at US bases in Britain, with reports of 18 US F-35A fighter jets being deployed from RAF Lakenheath to Jordan this week. Brize Norton RAF base has also issued a Notice to Airmen announcing that the base will be operational for essential aircraft only over the period 27 February – 27 May, with concerns this indicates that the base may be involved in military action.
In response, Iran has held live military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping lane in the Gulf through which 20% of global oil and gas is transported.
CND reiterates its call for the maximum pressure to be placed on the US and Israel to pull back from any military assault on Iran. This would likely provoke a retaliation from Iran and risk engulfing the Middle East in a devastating conflict, risking hundreds of millions of people. We all remember the horror of the illegal US-led war on Iraq, a country half the size of Iran, in which over half a million people were killed and millions displaced.
CND also reiterates its calls on the British government to rule out any military involvement in an attack on Iran and to refuse permission for the US to use the joint US/UK Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands.
If the US does launch any illegal military aggression, CND and Stop the War urge all those who oppose this to join an emergency protest at Downing Street, details of which will be announced.