'No War On Iran' protest to take place in Dublin this evening

Protesters are set to gather at the Spire in Dublin at 6pm this evening, demanding "no to war", following the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which were launched on Saturday.

"For the second time in twelve months, America and Israel have launched an unprovoked and illegal assault on Iran," a post by People Before Profit (PBP) reads. "The results have been devastating, with at least 150 children massacred in a school in southern Iran.

"All of this has been done under the pretext of regime change. Let us be clear, it is solely the right of the Iranian people to decide who their leaders are, not Trump and Netanyahu. No one should believe the lie that they want to help people overthrow a brutal regime."

PBP's post goes on to criticise Irish leaders for refusing "to condemn Trump’s attack on Iran or even declare it illegal."

"In reality, they stand squarely behind Trump and have already aided in the transport of troops, weapons and material. They allow Shannon Airport to be used by US troops. They will use their presidency of the EU to forge closer links with NATO and are seeking to end the Triple Lock, which Micheál Martin once described as ’ the core of Irish neutrality’.

"People Before Profit is clear in its full solidarity with the Iranian people. We demand the end of the attacks on Iran and any effort to move us closer to alignment with Trump and NATO."

 

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This evening's protest in Dublin was called by the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM).

"We need numbers on the streets demanding no to war," their post on social media reads. "We need sanctions on Israel. The Irish government must demand an end to this. Tell your friends, work colleagues, neighbours, everyone..."

The US-Israeli attack on Iran began on Saturday, February 28, and resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with strikes on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states. Israel and Hezbollah have also exchanged strikes, with Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon having killed at least 31 people.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only one in four Americans approves of the US strikes on Iran. Around half of Americans, meanwhile, find that Trump is too willing to use military force.

In a video posted yesterday, Trump acknowledged the deaths of three US service members in the conflict, and stated that "there will likely be more before it ends."

The UN education agency, UNESCO, has condemned the missile strike on a girls' school in southern Iran – the death toll from which has now reportedly risen to 165 – describing it as "a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law."