On 12 June, Israel launched a criminal aggression with 200 warplanes bombing Iran. It hit civilian areas of the capital, Tehran, and military residences. It killed over 70 civilians and senior Iranian officials, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces; General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guard; and General Gholamali Rashid, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces. Reports showed explosions in the Iranian cities of Isfahan, Arak, and Kermanshah, sites of military and industrial complexes.
IWU-FI condemns the Zionist state’s genocidal actions against Palestinians and attacks on Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. Genocidal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced it was a “necessary” and “pre-emptive” action in the face of military nuclear action by Iran. False. There was no military action by Iran, which was in negotiations with the US regarding its nuclear production. The UN Atomic Energy Agency permanently monitored Iran. Israel announced that Operation Crescent Lion would continue “for as many days as necessary to eliminate this threat.”
US/European support for the attack is disguised as public opinion shifts against Israel. The far-right Donald Trump and his administration have declared that they “do not support Israel’s military action” and that they do not seek “a broader war with Iran.” But then Trump came out forcefully endorsing Israel’s military action and threatening Iran to “make a deal,” warning that otherwise there would be more “death and destruction.” Trump insisted that “Iran must make a deal, before there’s nothing left… Do it before it’s too late” (La Nación, Argentina, 13 June 2025). Macron, President of France, also endorsed him, declaring that “Israel has the right to defend itself” and cynically proposing “restraint and avoiding an escalation.”
Why has Israel launched this criminal aggression? Because, more than a year and a half after Gaza invasion and despite the destruction and its massive crimes, it has failed to achieve victory. It faces increasing global isolation and worsening internal divisions within Zionism. Massive actions are resurfacing in Europe and other parts of the world to support the Palestinian resistance and against the criminal blockade of Gaza, which is causing mass famine. Within Israel, opposition to continuing the invasion of Gaza is growing. The number of recruits refusing to join the army is growing. Protests continue, now daily, demanding an end to the war and the return of the hostages held by the Palestinian resistance. These mobilisations are the backdrop for a continuing political crisis within Zionism. Netanyahu launched the attack on Iran just as pressure from the parliamentary opposition was mounting for a motion calling for elections. That could bring down Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox Zionist allies. This is something they have been avoiding, for now. The attack on Iran serves to divert attention from their crisis and seeks to appeal for “unity against the enemies of Israel.”
Regarding Iran, we recognise its right to defend itself against the criminal attack of Zionism. And we repudiate all Zionist or imperialist aggression. We fully defend Iran’s right to develop its nuclear program and possess nuclear weapons. We must point out we do not give political support to the Iranian regime. Iran’s authoritarian theocratic government has never provided forceful responses to Israel’s criminal actions, nor has it been consistent in its support of the Palestinian resistance. As a capitalist and authoritarian regime, it represses the mass movement, the Iranian working class and people, and especially women’s demands for their rights.
The IWU-FI urges global mobilisation against Israel, supporting Iran’s defense and demanding promised retaliation. Fighting Zionist and imperialist aggression through global street protests helps defeat their Middle East colonization. We demand the governments to sever diplomatic and other relations with Israel. In this way, we also support the Palestinian resistance to end the genocide, the famine in Gaza, and Israel’s apartheid state.
Stop Israel’s criminal aggression against Iran!
Let’s repudiate imperialism’s support for aggression!
For the right to defend oneself against Iran!
Let’s support the Palestinian resistance against genocide!
End Gaza blockade!
For a free Palestine from the river to the sea!
International Workers’ Unity-Fourth International (IWU-FI)
13 June 13 2025
