In the wake of the United States and Israel’s imperialist offensive against Iran and the Middle East, we republish below a statement by March to Socialism in South Korea, a revolutionary socialist organization and sympathizer of the Current for Permanent Revolution – Fourth International (CPR-FI). The statement expresses key strategic agreements on the need to defeat the United States and Israel in their aims of regime change and dominance in the region. We share the perspective of the urgency to build a mass anti-imperialist movement to oppose this act of imperialist war, one that sees the path for the liveration of the Iranian people in the independent mobilization of the working class and youth across the region without any illusions in the Ayatollah regine.
Socialists must be clear in opposing this war and the challenges we face in the construction of an anti-imperialist movement. As Left Voice, we open our pages to these debates and discussions of our shared tasks.
U.S. and Israeli Imperialism Must Immediately Stop the Attacks on the Iranian People!
On February 28, Israel and the United States carried out a massive airstrike against Iran. This morning they announced the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, which was also reported by Iranian news agencies.
More than 200 fighter jets were involved in this operation, attacking 500 targets. The United States openly declared that the objective went beyond striking nuclear facilities and missile systems: it was regime change. Civilian residential areas, including Tehran, were bombed. In addition to Khamenei, Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, and Ali Shamkhani, a close associate of Khamenei, were also reportedly killed.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 201 people have been killed and 747 wounded. Twenty-four of Iran’s 31 provinces were attacked. Numerous civilians have been massacred. An attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab, in the southern province of Hormozgan, killed at least 108 people, including many girls. In Lamerd, Fars province, a gymnasium was bombed, killing at least 15 people, including children. Following Khamenei’s assassination, Trump brazenly claimed that he had “brought freedom to the Iranian people.” In reality, he is a butcher who murdered children to satisfy his imperialist ambitions in the Middle East.
South Korea remains silent in the face of U.S. and Israeli imperialist aggression. On February 20, the Korean government attended the inaugural meeting of the deceptive “Board of Peace” created by Trump as an observer, expressing support for his “efforts to promote peace in Gaza.” It is now also actively considering joining. This so-called Board of Peace, created by those who reduced Gaza to ruins, is nothing more than a tool to justify the imperialist plunder and oppression of Palestine. By remaining silent on Iran while considering joining the Board, the Korean government becomes complicit in imperialist massacres.
The European Union convened an emergency meeting of foreign ministers condemning Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries. Canada issued a statement supporting the United States’ actions, while the Australian prime minister posted his support on social media. The Western imperialist powers either approve of or remain silent in the face of the horrific consequences of U.S. and Israeli aggression, pushing the Middle East toward war.
The United Arab Emirates declared its right to retaliate against the Iranian response. Morocco pledged solidarity with “brotherly Arab countries” such as the UAE and Qatar, supporting any “legitimate measures” against Iran. Through the Abraham Accords, Morocco obtained recognition of its colonial rule over Western Sahara, while the UAE secured imperialist backing for its exploitation of Sudan. These reactionary Arab regimes not only ignore the U.S.-Israeli aggression, but also benefit from it, and are complicit in the perpetuation of the Palestinian genocide.
Imperialists have no right to invade Iran. They use the reactionary Iranian theocracy as a pretext, claiming they will “bring freedom.” However, the US actively supports authoritarian regimes like Morocco, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which oppress their people and neighbors. Their sole objective is to install governments subservient to their interests, not democracy or the well-being of the Arab people.
Earlier this year, during mass strikes and protests against the Khamenei regime, Iranian workers and people demanded: “U.S. imperialism, hands off Iran!” U.S. intervention only strengthens the violence of the reactionary regime and subjects the Iranian people to even harsher imperialist domination. The fall of the Iranian theocracy and the advance toward liberation can only be achieved through the struggle of Iranian workers and the masses.
The United States seeks regime change in Iran to strengthen its imperialist control over the Middle East, with the ultimate goal of prevailing in its confrontation with China. This attack on Iran is another step toward total war with China. The genocide in Palestine and the imperialist wars in the Middle East today will expand into East Asia tomorrow.
United States and Israel: Stop the imperialist invasion of Iran immediately! We stand in solidarity with the Iranian workers and people who are resisting imperialist aggression independently of the regime. With international solidarity from workers and peoples, let’s overthrow the Trump and Netanyahu governments and put an end to the massacres and barbaric wars.
The post Statement By South Korean Socialists: U.S. and Israeli Imperialism Must Immediately Stop Attacking the Iranian People! appeared first on Left Voice.
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