From National CND: Trump’s war threats against Iran | nuclear weapons, war and racism webinar | atomic blood doc world premiere

We are all watching in horror at the huge military buildup taking place in the Middle East, as Donald Trump prepares for another illegal attack on Iran. 

Talks are still taking place, ostensibly about Iran’s nuclear programme, but there are growing concerns that these negotiations are being set up to fail in order to justify bombing the country.

Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has publicly repeated that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and is willing to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency. But both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, are also arguing that Iran should not be able to enrich uranium at all, which goes beyond the terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Additionally both nuclear-armed states want Iran to dismantle its ballistic missile system.

The US military buildup in the region has been immense, including a fleet of warships while the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, is currently making its way to the eastern Mediterranean.

There is also increased military activity at US bases in Britain, with reports of 18 US F-35A fighter jets being deployed from RAF Lakenheath to Jordan this week. Brize Norton RAF base has also issued a Notice to Airmen announcing that the base will be operational for essential aircraft only over the period 27 February – 27 May, with concerns this indicates that the base may be involved in military action.

CND calls for the maximum pressure to be placed on the US and Israel to pull back from any military assault on Iran. This would likely provoke a retaliation from Iran and risk engulfing the Middle East in a devastating conflict, risking hundreds of millions of people. We all remember the horror of the illegal US-led war on Iraq, a country half the size of Iran, in which over half a million people were killed and millions displaced. 

CND also reiterates its calls on the British government to rule out any military involvement in an attack on Iran, including publicly refusing to give permission for the use of all British bases and the joint US/UK Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands.

In the event of a military attack on Iran, we urge local groups to organise protests in their town centres on the first evening of any attack. CND and Stop the War will also be calling an emergency protest at Downing Street, details of which will be announced.  

Nuclear weapons, war and racism: why we must unite against the far right – CND webinar, 3 March 

Ahead of the Together Alliance’s demonstration against the far right on Saturday 28 March, CND is holding a webinar to discuss how nuclear weapons’ horrific legacy of racism and colonialism continues to this day, and how the ongoing war drive is fuelling the growth of the far right in Britain.  

• Tuesday, 3 March 
• 7:00pm
• Online, register here

With guest speakers: Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP; Roger McKenzie, CND Vice-President; Junko Ozawa, member of TUC Black Activists’ Network and Royal College of Nurses; Sabby Dhalu, co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism and interim officer of Together Alliance.

‘Our Planet, The People, My Blood’ WORLD PREMIERE in London’s West End at the Prince Charles Cinema, 12 March at 6:00pm

‘Our Planet, The People, My Blood,’ a powerful documentary about the global legacy of nuclear testing, will have its world premiere in London’s Prince Charles Cinema, on Thursday 12 March.

Interviewing victims of nuclear testing and their descendants from the Marshall Islands, Australia, the US, as well as British service personnel who were exposed to British nuclear tests in the South Pacific and Western Australia. The documentary also follows a descendant of an atomic test veteran, Alan Owen, on his journey taking on the Ministry of defence, in a landmark legal battle that seeks recognition and compensation for millions. 

The film has been endorsed and supported by CND, ICAN, UN House Scotland, and LABRATS. If you are living in or near London, please show your support by attending the world premiere at the Prince Charles Cinema, London, on Thursday, 12 March, 6:00pm.  

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTED TICKETS for the screening, available here (limited availability!) 

For CND supporters we are also providing a PROMO CODE for 20% off tickets until 5 March! Limited seating available, first come first served: CNDSUPPORT 

Can’t make London on the 12 March? A special advance screening of the film on the 5 March at The Art House, Crouch End. Get your tickets here.

Further screenings up and down the country will start after the premiere! You can find all the latest screenings here.