THE FEAR emanating from the world's financial markets almost overshadowed a second important event on Monday 19 October - the United Staes Navy's military attack on Iran with the bombardment of Iranian oil platforms in the Gulf. This was accurately characterised by the Financial Times as 'the most serious US move undeclared war on Iran in the Gulf.
The Thatcher government immediately gave total support to the US attack - about which it had been informed in advance. The Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey dicated that British naval forces in the Gulf might take similar action when he said that any country with naval forces in the area might be called upon to take 'action in selfdefence' similar to that of the US.
America's other imperialist allies in the Gulf rapidly followed the British example. The French Navy has begun live bombing practice in the area, Dutch and Belgian warships are on their way to back up Britain, France and the US. Even West Germany has agreed to send warships — in direct violation of its own constitution.
Within the US the Reagan administration's action has met the full support in the Democratic Party controlled Congress.
The US escalation against Iran shows once presence in the Gulf is nothing to do with its claim Iraq is continuing to step up its attacks on international shipping carrying Iranian oil with complete impunity.
The US intervention in the Gulf is aimed at dealing blows against Iran and propping up Iraq in the Gulf war — with the aim of stabilising US domination of the whole area.
In these circumstances socialists must defend Iran against imperialist attack -demand that the British and other imperialist fleets are pulled out of the Gulf.
The latest US action shows once more that the campaign for an arms embargo against Iran is purely a proposal to disarm Iran whilst the US deploys gigantic military forces against it and must be opposed. The latest events should convince all socialists of this. The demand for an arms embargo must be dropped. Instead demands must be stepped up for immediate withdrawal of the US and British fleets from the Gulf and an immediate end to the attacks on Iran.
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