The US and Israel have destroyed or damaged more than 115,000 civilian structures, according to Iran’s Red Crescent Society.  Some 763 schools and 316 health facilities have been hit, along with water plants and roads. This week a pharmaceutical company and an orphanage were bombed. Power plants and economic infrastructure have also been targeted. World Heritage sites have been attacked.

Earlier this week, the New York Times and BBC verified in separate reports that a previously untested US-made ballistic missile was probably used in the February 28th strike on a sports hall in Lamerd, Iran, where at least 21 people were killed, including young girls training there.

Two days ago, President Donald Trump celebrated a ‘double tap’ strike on a road bridge near Tehran to Karaj, sharing video of the attack that killed eight people and wounded 95. The second strike occurred as rescue workers responded to the initial attack. The strikes killed civilians who had gathered beneath the bridge and along the riverbank to celebrate Nature Day in Iran.

Trump’s cheering of attacks on civilian targets has drawn widespread condemnation. Owen Jones said: “Donald Trump is openly flaunting his war crimes. Journalists who won’t call them that are complicit.” Zeteo editor-in-chief Mehdi Hasan said: “This is what terrorism looks like, state terrorism.”

Over 90,000 residential units have been damaged in airstrikes. More than 3 million Iranians have been displaced by the war. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed and ten times that number wounded since the start of the bombardments. US-made mines have also been air-dropped in civilian areas.

Below we publish a statement supported by trade union leaders in Iraq, leading Iranian and Kurdish political activists, John McDonnell MP and many others.

End the war immediately and unconditionally

Over one month has passed since the US-Israel attack on Iran. Thousands of dead, millions of displaced, and destruction of sections of the social infrastructure are the outcomes of the attacks and the ongoing war to date.

Continuous threats of escalation of the attacks and bombing of economic infrastructure and nuclear facilities, as well as the persistent danger of complete destruction of the most vital arteries of social and economic life, have significantly increased the risk of immediate death of tens of thousands and the gradual death of millions of human beings in Iran and the region.

This war, contrary to the claims of its perpetrators and supporters, is not in aid of the people in Iran. These attacks and pledges of further assaults are neither intended to pave the way for the freedom of the Iranian people nor to defend their struggle in getting rid of the Islamic Republic! This is a war against the people and against their more than forty years of effort to achieve freedom, welfare, and security.

The victory of either side in this war will not be a victory for the people of Iran, who had, prior to this war, begun working towards building a humane and free future. The people of Iran and their struggle for freedom are the first victims and losers of this war.

The destructive effects of this war on the lives of the people and the requirements of their freedom-seeking movement are today more undeniable than ever before.

To defend the lives and security of the people in Iran, to protect the achievements of their struggles, and to support the efforts of generations striving for freedom and a humane life, this war must end immediately and unconditionally.

We consider this demand to be the minimum demand that can be achieved through the collective power of people in Iran and around the globe; a demand that not only minimises the damage but also paves the way for the Iranian people to advance toward their aspirations for freedom.

We call on all labour unions, human rights organisations and institutions and the global civilized population to put pressure on the parties in this war to end the war immediately and unconditionally.

Supported by:

• Abdul Karim Abdul Sada (Abu Watan) – President of the General Federation of  Workers’ Unions in Iraq/President of the General Union of Oil and Gas Workers
• Arrash Kamagar – Political Activist
• Assad Golchini – Communist Activist
• Assad Rostami – Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Iran
• Ardeshir Mehrdad – Political Activist
• Aman Kafa – Spokesperson of Iran Freedom and Revolution Watch
• Anwar Hassain Bazgar – Poet, Author and Journalist
• Azar Modaresi – Secretary of Central Committee of Hekmatist Party (Official Line)
• Bahar Monzir – Secretary of the People’s Organisation for Progress
• Dashty Jamal-  Secretary of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
• Diana Nammi – Founder of Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation-UK
• Ebrahim Alizadeh – First Secretary of Komala – Kurdistan Organisation of Communist party of Iran
• Ebrahim Awkh – Political Activist
• Fereydoon Nazerie – Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Iran
• Fuad Qzahi – Author
• Hassan Hesam – Member of the leadership of the Rahe Kargar
• Hassan Jumaa Awad Al-Asadi – President of the General Federation of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Unions in Iraq
• Hosain Dolatabadi- Political Activist
•  John McDonnell – Member of Parliament of the UK
• John Moloney – Assistant General Secretary of Public and Commercial Services Union, UK
• Khaled Hajmodamadi – Secretary of Leadership Committee of Hekmatist Party (Official Line)
• Mohamad Aloush – Secretary General of the Palestinian Workers’ Struggle Federation
• Nadia Mahmoud – Aman Women Alliance
• Nassrin Parwaz – Author
• Osman Haj Maref – Secretary of Central Committee of Worker’s Communist Party of Kurdistan
• Parvaneh Bokah – Member of local parliament- Hanover Germany
• Roger Silverman – Editor of the Journal On the Brink and a founding member of Workers International Network
• Reza Moqadam – Member of the Leadership of the Socialist Workers’ Alliance
• Rebwar Ahmad – Central Committee of Worker-Communist Party of Kurdistan
• Rebwar Aref – Central Committee of Worker-Communist Party of Kurdistan
• Samir Adel – Secretary of Central Committee of Worker-Communist Party of Iraq
• Soraya Shahabi – Founder of Iran Freedom and Revolution Watch

Image c/o Labour Hub.