CND condemns Israel’s illegal attack on Iran today, which is a violation of international law. We have repeatedly warned that ongoing military threats by US and Israel posed very serious dangers to the region. Now Israel has launched multiple attacks across Iran, targeting residential areas in Iran’s capital of Tehran, killing senior Iranian government and military figures, as well as nuclear scientists.  Civilian infrastructure in Tehran have been destroyed. Reports have not yet confirmed civilian casualties. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has stated that the Natanz nuclear facility has been bombed and is said to be working with Iranian authorities to assess radiation levels at the site. Netanyahu says the bombing campaign may continue for days.

Reports indicate that Iran has launched around 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation.

It is absolutely critical that the US and the wider international community halts this escalation. Israel’s actions are completely reckless and risk an all-out confrontation with Iran – which would create a humanitarian catastrophe.

This disastrous situation is the result of the US giving total impunity to nuclear-armed Israel to carry out its genocidal war in Gaza, and its wider military aggression, including the widespread bombing of Syria’s military bases.  Whilst the Trump administration is not confirming it had involvement in the bombing, Netanyahu thanked Trump for ‘confronting Iran’s nuclear weapons programme’. For months the US has been building up military forces in Diego Garcia – a key strategic base for launching military operations against the Middle East. This build up includes the deployment of nuclear-capable B52 strategic bombers and missile defence systems.

It is also the failure of the US administration to formally re-engage with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), which was set up in 2015 precisely to facilitate the process of ensuring Iran complies fully with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in exchange for the US lifting the crippling sanctions it has imposed on Iran for decades. Trump’s trashing of this agreement, the intensification of sanctions against Iran and his continued threats to bomb this country show that he had no interest in securing a peaceful resolution.

It is also the height of nuclear hypocrisy, that nuclear-armed Israel – which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and refuses any inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency – is not under any pressure to disarm its nuclear weapons. In fact, the British government has been granting export licences for Israel’s submarine programme., which is believed to house nuclear weapons.  

We need a nuclear weapons-free Middle East. This can only be secured through diplomacy, not military attacks. The British government has a critical role to play in this situation. It should widen sanctions on Israel and work within the UN Security council to call for an immediate de-escalation.

Sophie Bolt, General Secretary:

“We condemn Israel’s illegal attacks on Iran  – which breach international law. The US and the wider international community must work to halt this escalation. Israel’s attack risks an all-out confrontation with Iran which threatens a humanitarian catastrophe. This disaster is the result of the US giving total impunity to nuclear-armed Israel to carry out its genocidal war in Gaza, and wider military aggression.  It is also the result of Trump’s destruction of the international framework to secure Iran’s adherence to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The nuclear hypocrisy must end. We need a nuclear-weapons free Middle East. This can only be secured through diplomacy, not military attacks. The British government has a critical role to play in this situation. It should widen sanctions on Israel and work within the UN Security council to call for an immediate de-escalation.”