USA and Israel Warmongers Launch Their Imperialist War on Iran
Map from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on February 19, 2016; “What we know about the U.S. military buildup near Iran 2 carrier groups known or reported to be deployed, dozens of aircraft flown in”; by Christian Paas-Lang, Ivan Angelovski at CBC.ca
“Against the Imperialist War of the USA and Israel Launched Against Iran”
With notes on the class character of the Iranian theocratic state.
Posted 1 March 2026
On Saturday, 28 February 2026, at the start of the working week in Iran – the USA and Israel finally launched their long-predicted massive attack on Iran. The forces of the USA that were slowly being assembled in the immediate area surrounding Iran, and signalled this event. And the world’s workers and toilers have been awaiting this.
This short article need not be long, for the facts are quite clear.
The most important two sentences in this article are:
Halt the unjust war against the People of Iran!
End to USA and Israeli brutal domination over the countries of the Middle East!
All Marxist-Leninists, all militants of whatever stripe, and all progressive peoples of the world condemn this war of aggression. This article is short because the facts are quite clear. We make here only six brief points. We intend to amplify this with more detailed analysis over the next weeks. But the main points to be made by progressives are already more than clear and can be made succinctly.
1. Spurious and false justifications for this war
The reasons stated as a justification by the USA and Israeli war mongers for this war of aggression – are completely false. While the New York Times weasels in an “unproven” into their statement, that also contains the word “false”:
“As they made their public case this week for another American military campaign against Iran, President Trump and his aides asserted that Iran has restarted its nuclear program, has enough available nuclear material to build a bomb within days, and is developing long-range missiles that will soon be capable of hitting the United States. All three of these claims are either false or unproven.”
Mark Mazzetti, Edward WongDavid E. Sanger and Julian E. Barnes; “In Trump’s Case for War, a Series of False or Unproven Claims”; NYT Feb 26, 2026
Indeed, as well known on June 22, 2025, Trump ensured the US Air Force bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. He very shortly afterwards made loud proclamations that “Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated — and Suggestions Otherwise are Fake News” – See ‘The White House.gov’ website on June 25, 2025; at his White House website
2. ‘Legality” of this war of aggression
On any legalistic formal grounds, the war is illegal. By this is meant that there is no approval by the USA Congress, and that it is illegal under the terms of UN Charter. But all progressive people know that such legality is quite unnecessary today for war-mongers. Indeed it never was necessary for the war thirst of imperialists.
3. Complicity of Democratic Party Leaders
It would be a mistake to think that the leaders of the Democratic Party disapprove of the real objectives of the war. (We describe those below). Why do we charge the Democratic Party leaders of this?
First, because for years they have enabled Israel to be the USA policeman in the Middle East, acquiring arms to bully the populations of the Middle East (leaving aside here for the moment the genocide of Palestinians).
Second, on this new current war, evidence shows they were aware of what was going to happen. Of course they had read the NYT mapping out clearly where the US Navy was massing near Iran.
Christoph KoettlEric SchmittAshley CaiRiley Mellen and Daniel Wood ; “Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force Near Iran”; February 25, 2026;
In summary by February 26, 2026:
“USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers have been in the Arabian Sea since the end of January after being redirected from the South China Sea.
The strike group, which brought roughly 5,700 additional service members to the region, bolstered the smaller force of a few destroyers and three littoral combat ships already in the region.
Two weeks later, Trump ordered the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, along with three destroyers and more than 5,000 additional service members to head there. This will bring the Navy’s presence in the region to at least 16 ships, and it will dwarf the 11-ship fleet that was, until the Ford’s departure, stationed in the Caribbean Sea.”
Konstantin Toropin and Ben Finley; “US military builds up the largest force of warships and aircraft in the Middle East in decades”; for APAP News February 26, 2026;
They knew two major aircraft carriers were entering the Mediterranean through Gibraltar etc.
But to cap it all, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had informed the “Group of 8” – including the Democratic Party leaders. Who are the group of 8?
“The Gang of Eight consists of the leaders of each of the two parties in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, together with the chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the chair and ranking minority member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence…
Contemporary news coverage and reporting list the current officeholders who fill those statutory slots: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.); Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.); Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Vice Chair/Ranking Member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.); and Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, with Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) as the committee’s ranking member.”
At Factually accessed March 1, 2026
A rough paraphrase of a conversation between Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim for the ‘Drop Site” reports that:
“In reality, the Democratic Party is completely complicit. There is good evidence that Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jefferies and a group of 8 Democrats were briefed by Mark Rubio at end last week up to 27 February. They refused to do more than move for discussion at Congress of the War Powers Resolution next week starting from 2 March onwards.” At minutes 1 hour 11’ to 1 hour 12 minutes.
This is corroborated by other news agencies, including ‘The Independent” (UK):
“US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the “Gang of Eight” was briefed in detail earlier this week about potential military action against Iran.
The Gang of Eight includes the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives who are typically informed by the White House when a military attack is imminent.”
Harriette Boucher; “Gang of Eight’ was briefed on Iran attack by Trump admin before strikes”; Independent, Saturday 28 February 2026
The strike duly came on the next day on Saturday 28 February 2026. Starting on kids who had just arrived for a day at school – at least one 100 are reported dead from that strike alone up till now.
As the Intercept reported, the timing of the USA and Israeli strikes preempted any possible attempt to halt any vote in Congress of the USA on Trump’s authority to launch war:
“Both the House and Senate indicated that lawmakers would vote on respective War Powers Resolutions early this week, which in theory could limit Trump’s ability to attack Iran because the U.S. Constitution states that Congress has the exclusive authority to declare war. In launching the strikes, the Trump administration preempted any formal congressional debate.”
Jeremy Scahill And Murtaza Hussain; “As Trump Launches “Massive” Regime Change War, Iran Strikes Back at U.S. Bases and Vows Not to Capitulate” February 28, 2026 at Drop Site ‘Intercept”:
4. The class character of the Iranian state
It bears emphasizing that we have never supported the reactionary state government of Iran and its brutal suppression of democratic rights, and of those of women in particular. But an imperialist assault will not help the working class.
Iran’s leadership stands at the pinnacle of a class society that carries a façade of a reactionary theocracy. In reality, the strands of power are firmly held by a militarised sector together with the “bonyads”. These are charitable trusts and they co-control Iran’s economy.
The end of the debilitating Iran-Iraq Wars, which were in large part assisted by USA foreign imperialism, left a weak state. The old merchant (bazari)-bonyad state was slowly transformed under the guise of the clerics into a military-boyad controlling complex. This meant that:
“the transfer of the shares of many large government-owned enterprises to the military forces and the revolutionary foundations during the second phase of neoliberalisation (2005–2013) led to the emergence of the military–bonyad complex out of the bonyad–bazaar nexus. This fraction has hindered the entrance of Western capital under the name of ‘economic resistance’ and ‘self-reliance’.”
“Kayhan Valadbaygi; “Capitalism in contemporary Iran”; Manchester UK 2026; p. 27
It is true that there is a ‘liberal’ faction of this, led by those such as Rouhani.
However these elements have been struggling. Those more inclined to resist any linkages with outside of Iran, are essentially those of the military. They have adopted an increasingly bitter and dictatorial tone to the people:
“the military– bonyad complex has considered the development of civil society and the expansion of the press as Western (US) tools for threatening ‘Islamic revolutionary values’. By advocating a nativist, conservative interpretation of Islam with an emphasis on the importance of independence and cultural purity in line with its structure and accumulation strategy, the military–bonyad complex has routinely employed force to shut down civil society organisations and newspapers, thanks to its monopoly over the coercive apparatuses of the state.”
“Kayhan Valadbaygi; “Capitalism in contemporary Iran”; Manchester UK 2026; p.124
The state has defanged any independent trade unions, and as part of the corporate state has its yellow Unions:
“the state authorised three forms of organisations, namely the Islamic labour councils (shurā-hā-ye eslāmi- ekār), the Islamic labour associations (anjoman- hā-ye eslāmi- e kārgari) and guild associations (anjoman- hā- ye senfi) .At the top of these three ‘yellow unions’, the Workers’ House (khāneh- e kārgar) was constituted as ‘a self- appointed federating “union” with the financial and logistical support of the government’.”
“Kayhan Valadbaygi; “Capitalism in contemporary Iran”; Manchester UK 2026; p.137
There are therefore some strong parallels to a fascist state. It is not surprising that the people of Iran do not support the government of Iran as it has been structured in the past 30 years.
The degree of poverty and inequity is very high:
“Since 1994, the average income of the richest 10 per cent of the population has been about fifteen times that of the poorest 10 per cent. In the same period, while the top 20 per cent accounted for 48.5 per cent of the income share on average, the lowest 20 per cent held as little as 5.5 per cent.
Perhaps the most shocking phenomenon has been the striking upsurge in the number of those who live in extreme poverty. According to the head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, in 2017, 10 to 12 million people lived in absolute poverty, testifying that the number will be between 16 to 20 million (25 per cent of the population) if the extreme poverty line was measured slightly higher .”
“Kayhan Valadbaygi; “Capitalism in contemporary Iran”; Manchester UK 2026; p.141
Numerous legitimate eruptions of the workers – and of all classes of women, including workers – against the vicious regime has been an important feature of recent years:
“In September 2022, the death of Jîna (Mahsa) Amini, a 22- year-old Kurdish woman, in the custody of the notorious Morality Police on the charge of violating the dress code for women (hijab), sparked a series of demonstrations in her hometown region under the banner of ‘Women, Life, Freedom’. The outrage over the circumstances surrounding her death rapidly went beyond Iranian Kurdistan, leading to a wave of discontent across the country.”
“Kayhan Valadbaygi; “Capitalism in contemporary Iran”; Manchester UK 2026Ibid p. 154
The most recent worker and woman manifestation was met with vicious force with deaths in the thousands, even as of now – the tally has not yet been publicly numbered.
5. The real meaning or purpose of this current war
Notwithstanding all this brutality of the Iranian government to its people, the return of Iran to the potential rule of the reactionary Crown Prince of the Reza Pahlavi monarchic regime is unacceptable to the interests of the majority of the people. Before we get to the path that people will – without a doubt, at some stage take – we should first recall Trump’s previous actions in regard to Iran. This forms the pattern by which we may see the intent of the USA and Israeli ruling classes.
Of course Trump’s own involvement with Iran began with his assassination of a key leader.
MLRG.online “Qassem Suleimani – Leader of the Iranian Quds Militia Assassinated 2020 On the Brink of Another War – the Trump Presidency Assassinates Iranian Leader Originally published – Berlin Left 8 January 2020. Re-published MLRG.Online April 2024
There we stated this:
“Characteristically, the world’s top imperialist nation, the USA, sought no consultation with allies. Because President Trump is himself well known to be impulsive, this act is seen as yet another example of his individual lunacy. But this ignores deep systemic roots in this crisis. In 1914, an assassination resulted in war because of systemic inter-imperialist rivalry. Today, an underlying systemic drive to control the Middle East, has loosened the dogs of war.”
Today in 2026, there is simply a continuation of the same. We have in several places pointed out the USA and Israeli ruling class desire to redraw the maps of the Middle East. This is another facet of those.
The drive to do this explains the careful trap of “Strong Pillar’ – into which Netanyahu and the USA led the leaders of Hamas into (See From October 7, 2023 to October 2024 – and the Aftermath” Part 2: The events of October 7th and the prior knowledge of the impending events MLRG.online October 12, 2024).
One of the other current spectacles that Trump affords the world – is the charade of the Trumpian Gaza “Board of Peace“. The goals of this current war align with the intent of that so-called “Peace Board” .
(See “Very Slowly Some World Leaders Grow a Spine – Trump’s Arrogant Claims over Greenland and Europe’s Response”; in section iv The case of the Gazan center of the USA plans for the Middle East and the “Board of Peace” MLRG.online 22 January 2026
The overall goal is to redraw the map of the Middle East. This long-term goal has been held by the USA and the Israeli ruling class for decades now. We have discussed it previously in several places. It aims to erase any potential opposing State – or near State-level – forces in the Middle East.
It is in reality now another step in ensuring a global hegemony against the People’s Republic of China. To this end, the removal of another source of energy for oil-poor China is only another benefit to the USA in this on-going brutal war against the people of Iran. Make no mistake – it is they who bear the brunt of this war.
6. What is likely to occur now and how should we respond?
How do Marxist-Leninists outside of Iran proceed? Of course, the first thing is to help organise and support anti-war demonstrations in our own localities. Nonetheless Marxist-Leninists know that only a Marxist-Leninist party inside Iran can help the Iranian people take control of their destiny. Only a socialist revolution can enable them to take control of their state.
Today (March 1, 2026) we heard that the imperialists have killed the head of State of Iran – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader (1939-2026). Undoubtedly, he was on the reactionary side of the coalition of the military-boyar ruling class. Among those most likely to rise to be his replacement is Ali Larijani, the country’s top national security official.
From what we know, it does seem as if he is a ‘chip off the old block”:
“Ayatollah Khamenei has instructed Mr. Larijani and a handful of other close political and military associates to ensure that the Islamic Republic survives not only American and Israeli bombs, but also any assassination attempts on its top leadership, including on Ayatollah Khamenei himself, according to the six senior officials and the Guards members.
Nasser Imani, a conservative analyst close to the government, said in a telephone interview from Tehran that Ayatollah Khamenei has a long and close relationship with Mr. Larijani, and the supreme leader turned to him in this time of acute military and security crisis.
“The supreme leader fully trusts Larijani. He believes Larijani is the man for this sensitive juncture because of his political track record, sharp mind and knowledge,” Mr. Imani said. “He relies on him for reports on the situation and pragmatic advice. Larijani’s role will be very pronounced during war.”
Mr. Larijani comes from an elite political and religious family, and for 12 years, he was the speaker of Parliament. In 2021, he was put in charge of negotiating a 25-year comprehensive strategic deal with China worth billions.”
Farnaz Fassihi; “Inside Iran’s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival”; New York Times; February 22, 2026.
Whether a factional battle will break out; or whether the imperialists have their own possible ‘turned’ government agents – is as yet unknown. Israeli agents are well embedded:
“Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab last year exposed a network of more than 50 online accounts, “very likely” linked to Israel, that were sharing AI-generated
content encouraging a new revolution in Iran.”
Abigail Hauslohner, Peter Andringa, Sam Joiner “The campaign to bring back the Shah of Iran – Reza Pahlavi, son of the former monarch, has spent years seeking to
build support”; Financial Times London 13 February, 2026
The bourgeois media do not even acknowledge as of yet – where this aspirant-want-to-be-Shah comes from. His father was of course the notorious comprador of the USA. His feared regime with the SAVAK secret service was the most notorious in the entire Middle East. It gutted the communist and nationalist movement.
But once more, the degree of Israeli and USA intelligence penetration into Iran is extraordinary. It is certainly not beyond possibility that they have their waiting replacements for the “Supreme Leader”. We all should recall recent events in Venezuela (“The Capture of Nicolás Maduro and the current strategy of USA imperialism”: MLRG.online 4 January 2026).
The reactions on the streets of Iran today have apparently ranged from those cheering news of the death of the “Supreme Leader” to large demonstrations against the USA and Israel. Undoubtedly, the next weeks and months will be chaotic. In the absence of a determined and influential Marxist-Leninist party, there will be many difficulties.
It is very possible – most likely in fact – that Trump and Netanyahu will achieve their much-lusted-for ‘regime change’.
Although some serious commentators believe otherwise:
“Everyone said that if Ali Khamenei is killed, the people will come into the streets to overthrow the regime, and so far that has not happened. Some people have cheered, but overall the system is quite resilient,” said Sina Azodi, director of Middle East studies at Georgetown University. “One thing the Israelis have tried for the past two years is decapitating the top echelon of their enemy and expecting them to implode tomorrow. That works well against non-state actors, but not against a state actor that is quite resilient, has a constitution and other structures in place, and that in its early years already had to go through the experience of total war and leadership assassinations.”
Hooman Majd, an Iranian-American political analyst who served as an advisor to former Iranian President Mohammed Katami, said Iran has been preparing for major U.S.-Israeli attacks since the 12-day war last June, during which more than 1,000 Iranians were killed, including senior military commanders. “Their military leadership is quite deep in terms of both the regular army, the IRGC, and the Navy. They have an ability to sustain a war, perhaps even longer than the U.S. wants to,” Majd told Drop Site. “There will come a point at which Trump may decide Trump is the one who wants the off-ramp, not Iran.”
Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain; “Iran Prepared for an Existential War. How Much Are Trump and Israel Willing to Gamble?” March 1 DropSite at March 1
At the time of writing, we ourselves are not aware of the state of the Marxist-Leninist movement inside Iran. Nor indeed what survivals – from the terrible days of the Savak-Shah, or of the terrible days of the Mullah theocracy – there are of the more broader progressive movements. We anticipate shortly reporting a longer, deeper dive into the class structure and history of Iran up to today.
We have previously written on Iran in the context of the Kurdish Movement (Theses on the Kurdistan Part 1 MLRG.online which also contains details of “8. Republic of Mahabad and the Azerbaijan Crisis 1946”; and Kurdistan Part 2 MLRG.online;); and in the context of the Iraq-Iran War (War by Proxy: The Iraq-Iran War – for ‘Compass’ 1980 At MLRG.online 21 June 2025)
To conclude, once more – an antiwar movement in the leading Western countries must be launched. Slogans such as the following must be voiced loudly:
Halt the unjust war against the People of Iran!
End USA and Israeli brutal domination over the countries of the Middle East!
The Iranian People must have the freedom to decide their leadership!
