Tag: Iran
When the inter-imperialist conflict between the USA and China intensifies
The following article analyses the background of the inter-imperialist confrontations that shake the world from an internationalist point of view. It has been published two days before the opening up of the Pandora’s box of generalizing imperialist warfare by the joint US-Israeli military attack on Iran under the pretext of conducting “preemptively” a “defensive war” and even of the blatant lie of “assisting” the “Iranian people” to liberate itself from the Mullah regime.
Whereas internationalist analyses and statements of positions on the significance of the current world-wide escalation are forthcoming in separate articles, we recommend the following text published by the Istituto Onorato Damen.
H.C., March 16, 2026.
Continue reading “When the inter-imperialist conflict between the USA and China intensifies”
Escalation of the War over the Near and Middle East – First Internationalist Statements
As the atrocious massacre and starvation of the inhabitants of what is left of the Gaza Strip, after 19 months of relentless destruction and killing since Hamas’ terrorist assault on Israeli dwellings and kibbutzes of October 7, 2023, and the increasingly brutal repression of the Palestinian population on the West Bank, had come under increasing pressure both ‘domestically’ and internationally – especially following the renewed Israeli blockade since March 19 (1) – the Netanyahu fraction has taken the flight forward into an open and direct military confrontation with its regional arch-enemy, the Islamic Republic of the Ayatollahs.
The Israeli surprise assault on Iran of June 13, prepared long in advance and exerted in tandem with its US American master, opens up the Pandora’s Box of a regional imperialist conflagration with global implications and may therefor pose urgent questions to internationalists. (2)
First and foremost, this new belligerent escalation confronts internationalist minorities with their responsibilities. In the following, we therefor reproduce the first two proletarian internationalist statements that we have been able to find, as contributions to a necessary debate:
1. The statement by the ‘Circolo Internazionalista’ from Italy: The Flames of Imperialism are Increasing, published June 13, 2025;
2. The statement by FD, Battaglia Comunista (affiliated to the Internationalist Communist Tendency) of June 14, 2025: Israel’s Attack on Iran, but not only.
Henry Cinnamon, June 16, 2025.
1 Even seasoned defenders of the State of Israel in the “democratic West”, like for instance the Dutch and German bourgeoisies, saw themselves prompted towards an hypocritical change of tone in face of rising domestic anger against the barbarity exerted in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank that undeniably is on the account of their Israeli “friend”.
2 We have tried to develop one regarding the US-Israeli alliance in our brief editorial of June 15.
Israel’s Attacks on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities, Military Defenses and Key Regime Figures – Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?
Editorial
At the dawn of Friday 13 June 2025 the Israeli army and intelligence have started a massive military assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities, high echelon military commanders of the Iranian regime, and key nuclear scientists.
According to Israeli sources some 200 military airplanes have been used to bomb over 100 targets on Iranian soil. Next to targeting a considerable number of the geographically dispersed sites related to the Iranian nuclear program, among which the Uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, six nuclear scientists and a number of the highest ranking army and Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders have been eliminated, among which key figures to the presumed negotiations with the USA on controlling the country’s nuclear development in order to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons’ capabilities.
Syria: The Fall of Damascus
A Statement by F.D. (Battaglia Comunista)
(Written before the fall of the Assad regime, updated version of December 8)
The civil war has restarted in an already devastated Syria. The perpetrators of this renewed war against Assad come from the jihadist galaxy of the entire Middle East, such as the former al-Qaeda members led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham and Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, “disciple” of al Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraqi territory, and of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the caliph who proclaimed himself a descendant of Mohammed and head of the Islamic State before he met his death. They are the ones who lead the military coalition of groups such as the pro-Turkish ones, the various jihadist militants from the Caucasian areas, Uzbek militiamen, remnants of ISIS and even the Muslims (Uighurs) from Chinese Xinjiang.
This jihadist galaxy which began an assault on Assad’s government occupied Aleppo and a vast amount of territory in no time, effectively establishing itself as a powerful army capable of waging a civil war against a central government which is the vassal of Russian imperialism.
Discussion on ‘Gaza: The Horror and its Lies’
At the French language web blog GRAND LARGE CRITIQUES a commentary has appeared on the article Gaza: The Horror and its Lies, whose translation we’re pleased to take up here, followed by the reply of the author:
-
Commentary on the text by Raoul Victor about Gaza (Lejardinier, September 11, 2024)
-
The Motivations of Hamas (Raoul Victor, November 3, 2024)
We welcome this constructive start of a discussion. Readers who want to participate in this discussion are invited to send their appreciations and/or contributions by e-mail to: afreeretriever[at]gmail.com (and to also read the Colophon).
The editor, December 2, 2024.
The US Rout from Afghanistan
Statements and analyses from internationalist sources
The announced withdrawal by the USA and its allies from Afghanistan after 20 years of direct military presence has led to a takeover of the country by the Taliban with unprecedented speed in the last few weeks and days, leading, among others, to dramatic and chaotic scenes of mass flights that are presently reported in the world’s media by the hour. This blog post references and documents (first) statements by internationalist groups and circles on these events and their wider implications and significance. Continue to read an updated list of statements and analyses.
The editor, August 16, 2021.
Last updated: September 9, 2021.
Iran: Strikes in the Oil and Petrochemical Industries at the Center of new Proletarian Struggles
After the fiasco of the recent presidential elections in Iran (less than 50% of the voters participated), a massive strike wave initiated by ‘contract’ workers in the oil and petrochemical industries has extended throughout the country, persistently resisting the maneuverings and repression of the ‘Islamic Republic’ and resuscitating a widespread solidarity in society.
In the following we document its repercussions in the political milieus laying claim to proletarian internationalism:
-
‘Left-wing Communism – NOT an infantile disorder’ has opened a special section since last June 30, featuring analyses from internationalist sources, news and background articles: Iran oil strike at the center of a new wave of proletarian struggles. Besides voices from the former milieus, statements by a number of bourgeois (ultra-) left organizations can be consulted there (in provisional translations) as well, next to a number of communiqués by the strike committee in Iran, and some commentaries.
-
Hereafter, on page 2, we present the first statement we have received on the courageous struggle by the precarious workers in Iran, the communiqué by ‘Internationalist Voice’ of June 27, 2021, (regardless our disagreement on ‘peripheral’ capitalism’), summarizing the stakes and demands at its point of departure, and putting forward a first evaluation.
-
The Internationalist Communist Tendency has just published its first article, envisaging both to inform its readers (at the hand of communiqués from the strike committee) and to draw a critical balance sheet of the strike, its repercussions in the country, and the perspectives this opens up: Iranian Oil and Petrochemical Workers’ Strikes Go On . (28 July, 2021)
Last but not least, we invite our readers to explore the publications we have had occasion to relate on this blog on the situation in the Near and Middle East, and specifically regarding Iran. For our following of proletarian struggles we recommend in particular:
Iran: “Lessons from Strikes, Labour Struggles and internationalist Tasks” (Extracts) (A balance sheet by ‘Internationalist Voice’, January 2019)
Theses on the 2018 proletarian struggles in the Near and Middle East and their prospects (An article summary, Fredo Corvo, January 2019)
Impending war Iran-USA, towards a third world war? (Translation from ‘Arbeidersstemmen’, January 2020)
Iran: A New Wave of Strikes and Workers’ Protests and the Need for Workers’ Solidarity (A Communiqué by ‘Internationalist Voice’, August 2020)
The editor
Appeal to Arab and Jewish workers in Palestine and Israel
Arbeidersstemmen (‘Worker’s Voices’), Amsterdam, May 25, 2021.
With hope and expectation, workers around the world have received the news on the joint demonstrations on bridges and traffic junctions of Arab and Israeli speakers. During the mutual bombings and pogroms back and forth, they protested hand in hand, as neighbors and fellow workers against terror and war.
After the armistice, by their participation in mass peace demonstrations, they expressed the fear that the powers on both sides of the borders speak of peace, but in reality are already preparing the next war. War preparations that require further intensification of the exploitation of all workers: border-crossing labor, digging tunnels, building missiles, surplus labor for the development and purchase of weapons systems. All this in addition to passing the costs of war and reconstruction on to the working and poor. Both the State of Israel, the PLO State in the West Bank and the Hamas State in Gaza feel empowered in their war efforts by the massive support of “their” populations blinded by nationalism. Without exception, these three states will continue to direct the terror of extremist militias and gangs against any resistance to the war preparations and intensified exploitation, even if this resistance invokes the “peace” and the “right of self-determination” as articulated by the leaders of the peace movement. Continue reading “Appeal to Arab and Jewish workers in Palestine and Israel”
Iran: A New Wave of Strikes and Workers’ Protests and the Need for Workers’ Solidarity
An internationalist Articles Selection & Review 