Pro-Shah sympathisers, Iranian coup, 1953. Photo: wikimedia commons
The warmongering from the west is the latest in a long line of imperialist interventions in the region, argues John Rees
Here are some reasons why ordinary Iranians might be uninterested in anything Trump or the next Tory prime minister might have to say about their country.
1The US and the UK overthrew the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 in a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6.
2The US and UK were enthusiastic backers of the brutal regime of the Shah of Iran, up to and including enabling his nuclear programme.
3After an initial period of neutrality the US and UK backed the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in the devastating 8 year Iran-Iraq war that left half a million dead, with most casualties being Iranian.
4The US has unilaterally torn up the Iranian nuclear deal and tightened already crippling sanctions.
5The US and UK have backed the murderous Saudi Arabian regime in its war of aggression in Yemen, which aims to weaken the Iranian regime.
And yes, the Iranian government is an oppressive, authoritarian regime. I hope it is overthrown by the Iranian people…but any US regime change that ends in Trump and Bolton calling the shots will be a disaster for Iranians equal to the disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
John Rees
John Rees is a writer, broadcaster and activist, and is one of the organisers of the People’s Assembly. His books include ‘The Algebra of Revolution’, ‘Imperialism and Resistance’, ‘Timelines, A Political History of the Modern World’, ‘The People Demand, A Short History of the Arab Revolutions’ (with Joseph Daher), ‘A People’s History of London’ (with Lindsey German) and The Leveller Revolution. He is co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition.