The Stop WW3 International Initiative for Peace unequivocally aligns itself with the resistance of the Iranian people against the imperialist aggression of the United States and the Zionist entity. For more than six weeks, both parties have been carrying out relentless attacks under the name “Epic Fury.” Against the will of a large part of the population, a reckless Trump is dragging the United States into yet another war, encouraged by Netanyahu and the hawks within his cabinet. Civilian targets, including schools and essential infrastructure, have not been spared, resulting in immense human suffering.
The resistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the United States and Israel serves as an example to the world. Anti-imperialist forces worldwide cannot but support this resistance. The various theaters of struggle that have developed in recent years now appear to converge in the confrontation surrounding Iran.
We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history. Iranian resistance is breaking the aggression of the American-Zionist alliance in an unprecedented manner. Whereas the United States assumed that “decapitating” the Iranian leadership would suffice, reality has caught up with them.
The war against the anti-imperialist government in Tehran has, contrary to the aggressor’s expectations, not produced a color revolution. On the contrary, the elimination of prominent figures has turned them into martyrs and mobilized the Iranian people. Large numbers took to the streets, including forces having previously opposed the government, to express their support and to defend their cities and villages. The image that the imperialist media sought to project -that the population was eager to rise up- has thereby been irreparably damaged.
Iran’s military capabilities were not neutralized, but instead demonstrated considerable resilience and an ability to respond to the attacks. As a result, the United States evacuated part of its military installations in the Middle East, a measure that until recently would have been considered unthinkable. Moreover, the Islamic Republic showed that it is capable of exerting strategic pressure on vital economic chokepoints of the neoliberal world system, in particular by paralyzing the Strait of Hormuz. The American military apparatus proved unable to mount any significant response.
This sustained, principled resistance against the imperialist and Zionist tandem already constitutes a major victory in itself. The unipolar dominance of the imperialists is thereby, at this moment, being de further dismantled, opening new perspectives for resistance on other fronts. Not only in the Middle East, but also in Eastern Europe, where the defense against imperialism and fascism in Ukraine has entered its fifth year, and in Latin America, where the American military and economic machinery continues to threaten not only Venezuela but also Cuba.
For this reason, Iran’s struggle is of crucial importance in the global struggle against imperialism and Zionism. In this historical moment, it is therefore the duty of every anti-imperialist to align themselves with this resistance. Whoever says, “Neither Washington nor Tehran!” objectively places themselves on the side of imperialism. We therefore reaffirm our strong condemnation of the joint American-Zionist aggression and once again emphasize our support for Iran’s right to self-defense.
Peace can only be achieved through the global defeat of imperialism and Zionism. Iran now stands at the forefront of this struggle, waging one of its first decisive battles. A ceasefire is currently in place, yet Israel has in recent weeks continued its aggression against Lebanon. Only under significant pressure from the United States, reflecting the changed relationship of forces across the region, has a ceasefire been enforced there as well, as Trump seeks to preserve the ceasefire with Iran. The conditions imposed on the Lebanese resistance remain highly coercive, while the demands placed on Israel -particularly regarding withdrawal- are wholly insufficient. We are for peace, but for a just peace. This, however, is merely the calm before the storm: the war will resume sooner or later, and it is already clear that those elected on promises of peace now call for increased military spending and escalate a potentially nuclear threat. Only a broad, democratic popular movement can force them to retreat.
Stop WW3 International Initiative for Peace
www.internationalpeaceconference.info
Picture by Sadra Noori, a famous Iranian fotographer, who lends his work to the solidarity movement
