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| Volume 56 Number 7, March 7, 2026 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
Anti-war protesters rally outside Westminster
Hundreds of anti-war demonstrators gathered outside Parliament on Saturday, February 28, voicing opposition to the US and Israel-led unprovoked attacks on Iran.
The protest was organised by the Stop the War on Iran Coalition, supported by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War, Campaign Against Sanctions, Military and Imperialist Interventions (CASMII), and others.
Addressing the crowd, Professor Abbas Edalat from the CASMII pointed out that Iran's historic solidarity with Palestine was one of the main reasons that the West was bombing Iran.
He stated that Iran had been the only country to fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Iran has refused to abandon Palestinians for 47 years, despite crippling sanctions and threats of regime change.
He also called on anti-war activists not to play into the hands of imperialist warmongers by attacking the Iranian government. He urged unity in defending Iran against the onslaught.
Chris Nineham from Stop the War said that there was a "real sense that Trump and the Americans and the Israelis are taking us to the brink of absolutely disastrous events, and we have to stop them".
Newcastle
Emergency protest at the Monument, Newcastle, March
2
On Monday March 2, around 70 people took part in the emergency protest at the Monument to condemn the US/Israeli unprovoked and criminal attack on Iran whilst negotiations were ongoing between the US and Iran. The protest condemned these murderous and reckless acts that have led to the death of more than 150 young girls in the bombing of a school and massive destruction in Iran. Also, that this threatens a wider war across the region with unimaginable consequences. The protest sent deepest sympathies to the people of Iran for the loss of their people and the loss of their leader Ayatollah Khamenei who, along with his family members, was assassinated in the attacks on Tehran and other cities. Speaker after speaker expressed full support for Iran's right to self-determination and self-defence. The Chair of the protest Tony Dowling condemned Starmer for announcing that he was allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran by claiming that this was "self-defence" for Britain. He said how can taking part in an illegal war of aggression against Iran be defensive. He said that we must protest this madness and demand that our government takes no part and condemns Israel's and US's catastrophic actions.
Speakers were: Cath Davis, Your Party Central Executive Committee; Martin Levy, president Newcastle Trades Union Council; Sean Kelly, chair NEU Regional Council; Marika Asgari, Newcastle University UCU; Molly Storm, Revolutionary Communist Party; Halimah Begum, Newcastle Green Party; Pam Wortley, vice-chair Newcastle Stop the War; Geoff Abbott, Stand Up to Racism North East; Jane Byrne, Independent Newcastle Councillor Monument Ward; Roger Nettleship, South Tyneside Stop the War
Emergency online rally
Stop the War hosted an online public meeting on March 3 to discuss the rapidly developing situation with almost 1,000 participants. Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP, Tariq Ali, Maryam Eslamdoust (General Secretary, TSSA), Lindsey German (StW), Kate Hudson (CND) and Daniel Kebede (General Secretary, NEU, alongside political analyst Tritsa Parsi. The rally urged everyone to build a stronger movement against the war in Iran and to do all they can to stop Britain from getting further involved in this catastrophe that is unfolding.
March to the US Embassy
A demonstration in London will march to the US Embassy on March 7, assembling next to Victoria Tower Gardens on Milbank at noon. The demonstration will be under the banners, "Stop Bombing Iran", and "Hands Off Palestine and the Middle East".
Demonstration and peace vigil at Fairford US air base
The demonstration and peace vigil is being organised by Drone Wars UK, CND and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign on March 7. The organisers write:
"The UK, too, is deeply complicit in Trump's war despite a government campaign aimed at fooling the media and public into believing it is merely standing on the side lines and defending its 'national interests'. US Air Force attack aircraft from Lakenheath air base in the UK have deployed to the Middle East, including F-35 jets which have moved to Saudi Arabia and F-15Es deployed in Jordan. Special forces aircraft from Mildenhall air base have also flown to the Middle East. Despite claiming that bases like Fairford and Diego Garcia will not be used to bomb Iran, the UK has allowed US aircraft flying to the Middle East for its military build-up to use bases such as Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and Prestwick airport in Scotland as staging posts for overnight rest stops and refuelling. Following the initial attacks on Iran, the UK government has decided that US bases on UK territory can be used to attack Iranian missile sites in Iran. UK Typhoon and F35 aircraft are also flying to 'defend ' Israeli and US forces and bases - freeing up aircraft for use in attacks. It is highly likely that the UK has shared intelligence information with the US in support of the attacks - for example information gained as a result of RAF Reaper drone flights close to Iran aimed at provoking a response from Iranian forces."
Regional demonstrations on Saturday, March 7, are being held in:
Exeter - 11am, Bedford Square
Durham - 12 noon, Framwellgate Bridge
Hull - 12 noon, Queen Victoria Square
Bournemouth - 12 noon, Bournemouth Square
Norwich - 12 noon, City Hall