For the second time in twelve months, America and Israel have launched an unprovoked and illegal assault on Iran. The results have been devastating, with at least 150 children massacred in a school in southern Iran.
All of this has been done under the pretext of regime change. Let us be clear, it is solely the right of the Iranian people to decide who their leaders are, not Trump and Netanyahu.
No one should believe the lie that they want to help people overthrow a brutal regime. Saudi Arabia, for example, hosts a US airbase but engages in terrible repression and murder.
America, Israel, and their Western allies have a long history of interfering in Iran. In 1953, they overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, installing the Shah instead.
This farce is repeated today with Trump’s sponsorship of Reza Pahlavi, son of the hated former dictator. Trump and the USA have no interest in the democratic wishes of ordinary Iranians. Pahlavi is also a prominent backer of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and has called for the US bombing of Iran.
Our own leaders in Ireland refuse to condemn Trump’s attack on Iran or even declare it illegal. In reality, they stand squarely behind Trump and have already aided in the transport of troops, weapons and material. They allow Shannon Airport to be used by US troops. They will use their presidency of the EU to forge closer links with NATO and are seeking to end the Triple Lock, which Michael Martin once described as 'the core of Irish neutrality'.
People Before Profit is clear in its full solidarity with the Iranian people. We demand the end of the attacks on Iran and any effort to move us closer to alignment with Trump and NATO.
We need to challenge a capitalist system that gives rise to the barbarity of war.
We call on the Irish government to:
- End the American use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace
- Rescind their acceptance to go to the White House on St Patrick’s Day. There can be no truck with warmongers and murders
- End any efforts to bring us closer to alignment with NATO and the US.
- The triple lock must be retained.