The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR) strongly condemns the US and Israeli war aimed at regime change in Iran and calls for maximum solidarity with the people of Iran
Caught between the rock of a theocratic dictatorship and the hard place of US imperialism, fronted by an expansionist Israel, the Iranian people once again find themselves victims of a conflict they did not choose and do not desire.
Israeli attacks upon Iran, backed by the biggest United States military build up in the Middle East for decades, have been launched against Tehran and other key Iranian cities. Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has described the attacks as a “pre-emptive strikes” though quite what the attacks are alleged to be pre-empting is not made clear.
The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR) recently issued a warning that the failure of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to reach agreement in current talks would be disastrous for the Iranian people.
“CODIR is completely opposed to the ongoing US/Israeli attack on Iran”, said CODIR General Secretary Gawain Little, “This is outright imperialism and an attempt at regime change. We maintain our longstanding support for the Iranian people’s struggle and condemn the cynical use of this by the US and Israel. You cannot support a people by bombing them. We call for mass support for today’s emergency protest in Downing Street and oppose the attacks upon anti-war meetings by the British far right and Iranian Monarchists.”
US President, Donald Trump had previously signalled that a “limited military strike” on Iran may be the first step towards further escalation as US forces are reportedly preparing for a “weeks long” military intervention. Since the attack Trump has indicated that the US has launched “major combat operations” in Iran. The US remains fixed upon Iran agreeing to a reduction in its nuclear enrichment potential, which Iran insists is for purely civilian purposes. However, the US and Israel are also keen to reduce Iran’s ballistic missile capability.
The US President has also made no secret of his desire for regime change saying recently that this would be “the best thing that could happen” in Iran, a view echoed by the criminal regime in Tel Aviv. This was made clear by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu who has stated that “a short time ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”
The dangers of any military intervention spreading across the region are significant and would be catastrophic for the people of Iran and the wider Middle East. US regime change interventions elsewhere in the region, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria for example have not benefitted the people of those countries and there is the danger that Iran could be the latest calamity to add to this long list. Creating a failed state which can be exploited by US corporations appears to be part of the agenda for the US.
“CODIR is firmly against the theocratic dictatorship in Iran but equally strongly against outside intervention by either the US or Israel,” said Gawain Little, “the future of Iran must be for the Iranian people themselves to decide and there is no doubt that war will be a catastrophe for them and the region.”
Progressive forces inside the country are continuing to call for the end to the dictatorship and opposition to external intervention.
CODIR will continue to provide support and solidarity with those progressive forces on the basis of the people’s demand for peace, democracy and social justice.
Press release published by CODIR (www.codir.net)
Further information on CODIR
CODIR is an affiliate of Liberation.
CODIR is the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights. It has been established since 1981 and has consistently campaigned to expose human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
CODIR has worked closely with the trade union movement in the UK, the peace movement, all major political parties and Amnesty International to press the case for an end to torture in Iran’s prisons. Major trade unions in Britain are affiliated to CODIR and support its campaign for peace, human and democratic rights, and social justice in Iran.
CODIR has published Iran Today, its quarterly journal, since 1981, explaining the latest developments in Iran and the most effective way that the British public opinion could demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Iran.
In recent years CODIR has worked closely with Stop the War Coalition and has been vocal against any form of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the nation.
The views expressed in the articles published on this website do not necessarily represent those of Liberation.
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