The Parliamentary debate on the Iran war on 15 July featured an incisive contribution from Brian Leishman MP, representing Alloa and Grangemouth constituency. Mr. Leishman gave a clear outline of the current situation, condemning the extent of United States and Israeli aggressive action since June 2025 which has been sustained since February this year.
Mr. Leishman who is also the Parliamentary Chair of Liberation condemned the United States for sending out contradictory messages about conducting negotiations while, at the same time, escalating the conflict. He highlighted the impact of the conflict on the people of Iran, acknowledging the “enormous struggle of most ordinary Iranians” .
The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth went on to stress that the latest escalation of action by the US could result in the conflict widening further, stating that, “This could very easily become a full-scale all-out war with devastating consequences”, recognising that the environmental and economic impacts would be worldwide and not just confined to the Middle East.
Mr. Leishman stressed the illegality of US and Israeli military actions since June 2025; the unravelling of the ceasefire, negotiated without international approval; and the announcement by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to dismantle the International Criminal Court as interfering with US military operations, as supporting his view that “It is abundantly clear that diplomacy and international law is in tatters”.
Mr Leishman also condemned Iran’s “brutally repressive and theocratic regime”, its corruption and its economic mismanagement. He said ordinary Iranians were caught between that repression and an “inhumane and suffocating package of US sanctions”. Warning against demands that Britain should simply “fall into step and provide direct support without question”, he called on the UK to support an immediate and lasting ceasefire followed by the swift resumption of negotiations.
In spite of rhetoric from both sides of the conflict the Iranian people have suffered massively, while at the same time the US had failed to achieve any of its constantly shifting objectives.
The new cycle of action was highlighted as being the latest danger for both the Iranian people and the international economy given the struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran blocks international cargo, the US continues to bomb targets on the Iranian coast and the conflict escalates.
The position of US imperialism in relation to the Persian Gulf but also Venezuela, Greenland, Panama and Canada was flagged by Mr. Leishman as a “stark warning” to any countries trying to appease President Trump.
Mr. Leishman went on to condemn cuts in Overseas Development Aid which has been targeted in order to increase military spending. Mr Leishman went on to call for the British government to disassociate itself from President Trump’s “dangerous and hypocritical tactics”, in particular the US tendency to initiate and pursue illegal wars.
Mr. Leishman concluded by reminding the House that the majority of the Iranian people “desire peace and wish to rebuild their shattered country.” He recognised that the current war had set back the efforts of Iranian democrats and trade unionists to steer Iran towards democracy, acknowledging that “the future of Iran remains the preserve of the long suffering and long struggling people of Iran themselves.”
The views expressed in the articles published on this website do not necessarily represent those of Liberation
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