By Akani Nkuna
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned attacks on Iran by Israel in joint operations with the United States of America (USA), citing that they are both illegal and unjustifiable.
The party emphasized how Iran could defend itself in the wake of the provocation, and the blame would be hugely on Israel’s “genocidal leaders.”
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EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo asserted that the Israeli-US alliance sought to escalate tensions in the Middle-East under false pretense of being pre-emptive against an imminent threat, which it alleges that Iran posses, and says that the alliance is resolute and plans to disregard humanity and international law in pursuit of securing Israel’s interests in the regions albeit at the cost of peace and human life.
“The EFF is clear that not only is this war, which Israel has falsely declared as
preemptive, yet another violation of International Law, it is once again a reminder that the United States has become a proxy of Israeli interests and enters into wars without any Congressional approval,” he said.
“It is for this reason that the US has adopted diplomatic and economic aggression against any nation that condemns the acts of Israel, because of the simple fact that US foreign policy is determined in Tel Aviv.”
This comes after Israeli and US forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday, rocking Tehran with preliminary reports claiming that civilians were also harmed during the attack.
This escalation comes as both parties suffered a collapse in negotiating a peaceful resolution to their differences.
Stemming from Israel’s claims that Iran has an arsenal of advanced nuclear programme and ballistic missiles, which it argued posed an existential risk within the region, calling for Iran to halt the programme.
However, Iran has consistently denied that the nuclear programme was aimed at developing weapons, insisting that it was intended for civilian purposes, including energy, medicine, agriculture, and industry.
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Leading up to Saturday’s attack, Iranian officials, notably Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Israel and the US of spreading lies and disinformation about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, emphasizing the right to peaceful nuclear technology under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Thambo has called on the South African International Relations department to expedite the evacuation of South Africans in the region, and reiterated the need for international institutions to prompt Israeli-US attack and instigate adequate punitive measures.
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“For too long, Israeli’s have been complicit as their leaders wage war on the innocent
and provoke their neighbours. The resounding message from all people of the world must be that peace must be pursued as a priority, but in the face of attempts at regime change, and the silence of the world to the atrocities committed by Israel, Iran, like any other nation, has the right to defend itself,” Thambo said.
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