Class Struggle #4, April 2025, published

The current calendar post, listing some spring-summer events and anniversaries, is at:  durhamspark.blogspot.com/2025/03/unac-stop-attacks-on-palestinian-rights.html ; I hoped to post a new one soon, but I intended it for a month ago. 

[April 29th it was announced that the French government wants to "dissolve" Urgence Palestine May 7th; there is a rapidly growing petition in opposition at:  agir.urgence-palestine.org/appelsoutiens/12/ ; it doesn't say that it is limited to French citizens; for more information on this and other domestic anti-Palestinian actions by the French government see:  samidoun.net/2025/04/stop-the-dissolution-of-urgence-palestine-take-action-now-to-confront-frances-complicity-in-genocide/  The anti-fascist group Jeunes Gardes also faces dissolution.]

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network April 30th:

"Stop the dissolution of Urgence Palestine!

End the genocide in Gaza and throughout Palestine!

Stop the aggression against Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and the people of the region!

Haiti won, Algeria won, Vietnam won, and Palestine will win!

Victory to the Resistance!

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

We urge all in France and around the world to stand with Urgence Palestine.

• Sign on to the Urgence Palestine collective statement against dissolutions: https://tiny.cc/stopdissolution
• Demonstrate at a French embassy, consulate, or Alliance Française (official government representative of French cultural activities) in your area against the dissolution and repression — and against France’s ongoing complicity with Zionist genocide throughout occupied Palestine. Use the signs below!"

[The Friday, May 2nd sentencing for the stabbing to death of a Palestinian-American child, 6, in Plainfield Township, Illinois:  www.commondreams.org/news/wadee-alfayoumi ]

The 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, though US forces had withdrawn by that point, and the reunification of Vietnam is coming up April 30th.

icssmarx.org/commemorating-the-50th-anniversary-of-vietnams-victory-honor-the-peace-warrior-not-the-war-s-brian-willson-with-gerry-condon-may-4-2025-1030-am-pacific-time/

May 3rd 4-7pm in-person in New York City and online:  events.humanitix.com/50-years-of-peace-and-social-progress-in-vietnam

vietnam50.us/

On April 28th:  "Tlaib Marks 50th Anniversary of End of Vietnam War with Legislative Package to Bring Justice for Victims of Agent Orange" – www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2025/04/28/tlaib-marks-50th-anniversary-end-vietnam-war-legislative-pac

I met someone protesting for Agent Orange victims in DC in the fall of 2018:  durhamspark.blogspot.com/2018/10/reportback-from-womens-march-on.html 

  

April 28th is the 60th anniversary of a US invasion of the Dominican Republic:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/29/a-60-anos-de-la-invasion-estadounidense-republica-dominicana-alerta-sobre-amenazas-a-su-soberania/

The US occupation of Japan ended April 28, 1952?  Of course, there are still many US bases in Japan and European countries and in the Middle East, and the US government has some amount of influence. 

CBS reported on the US torture of prisoners held at Abu Ghraib, Iraq April 28, 2004?

April 28th is annual Workers' Memorial Day.

A massive and apparently not yet unexplained loss of power across capitalist Spain and Portugal and extending over the Pyrenees into France:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/29/estantes-vacios-y-alarma-en-las-calles-asi-vivieron-en-espana-el-escandaloso-apagon-masivo-videos/ , www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2025/04/29/une-gigantesque-panne-d-electricite-seme-le-chaos-en-espagne-et-au-portugal-c-est-dingue-de-se-sentir-si-vulnerable_6601149_3244.html , etc.

On US attacks on civilian targets in Yemen:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/civiles-gritan-y-corren-en-yemen-durante-los-bombardeos-de-ee-uu/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/las-fuerzas-armadas-de-yemen-atacan-tres-objetivos-sionistas-y-varios-buques-de-guerra-estadounidenses/

If I'm not mistaken, the fateful "pro-Palestinian [anti-war] protest" encampment at UNC-Chapel Hill was violently suppressed by a police force drawn from across North Carolina April 30th last year.  Several international students from public and private universities in the State have been forced to leave the country and people involved in the protest at UNC faced judicial and administrative attacks, though there might not have been any trials.  UNC itself now faces one or more lawsuits.  See previous posts.   

ADC Townhall - 100 Days of the Trump Administration will be April 30th at 7pm EDT:  us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GJX9opPyTMK0FziCZ82_6w#/registration

A continuous protest prevented construction of a California Highway Patrol center, now Chicano Park, in San Diego's Barrio Logan, 55 years ago May 1st?  – portside.org/2025-04-28/week-peoples-history-apr-30-may-6-2025

[April 30th is International Jazz Day, May 3rd is Wordsmith Day, May 4th is Star Wars Day, May 5th is Astronaut Day, May 6th is Nurses Day, May 7th is Tourism Day, May 8th is No Socks Day, and May 9th is Public Gardens Day – Days of the Year website.]  [Joseph Campbell and Star Wars,  they say:  www.jcf.org/learn/star-wars ]

[ ]

[The Kent State Massacre was May 4, 1970 in Kent, Ohio.  This wasn't the only massacre of or attack on protesting students in the US at the time, and many universities and governments in the "democratic" "West" seem to want to a repeat in the mid-2020's:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings ]

[Apparently the Soviet Venus probe Cosmos 482 failed and has been orbiting the Earth since 1970, but it is coming down.  It has a heat shield designed to survive Venus' atmosphere, so it should survive re-entry.]

[A Yemeni missile hit Israel's Ben Gurion Airport the morning of May 4th.]

[On NPR hit piece from Eleanor Beardsly about a teenager who allegedly broke with his parents and secretly left Lughansk for western Ukraine.  Will he now be drafted and sent to the front, with little training?  NPR has been quieter about Ukraine recently.  Warmongering and FIRE capitalist propaganda on WUNC on the 3rd.  Apparently there is a "bipartisan" bill in the Republican-controlled NC legislature that would make it easier, even automatic, after something like 104 days, to get real estate projects approved.  Does Governor Stein support the bill?  They didn't mention the bill until now?  I thought that it was strange how WUNC spoke about legislative interference in a land use decision west of here a few months ago, I think in Greensboro, seemingly reminiscent of the Legislature's 751 South interference in Durham.  WUNC just had a fund drive, ending on May 1st, because the Trump administration is coming after NPR, despite their basic loyality to constant warfare for empire, the "rules-based international order," and neoliberalism at home and abroad.  Steve Inskeep gave Steve Bannon a friendly interviewed around April 30th and Elsa Chang interviewed torture memo author John Yoo around May 2nd, but the focus of the interview was not the Bush-Cheney administration's torture program.  The BBC has pushed "Stoicism" in recent years, and here is an actual capitalist pushing the philosophy on Open to Debate, which he is involved with, at 6pm on the 4th.  The Republican-run Legislature has taken control of the State Board of Elections, but the Board acted in an openly partisan if not illegal way under Democratic Party control in 2024.] 

[Rikka, 입하 , lập hạ, or Lìxià (立夏), the start of summer in East Asian cultures, is May 5th in 2025? – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lixia  立秋 is August 7th:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liqiu  立冬 is November 7th:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidong ]

[Mars is currently in or near the Beehive/Praesepe/M44 star cluster in Cancer [just north of M44 around the 4th]; in Paris the Sun sets down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and under Arc de Triomphe around this week annually; information for the week of May 6-11th:  www.imcce.fr/newsletter/html/newsletter.html#astro-article1  There are more astronomical events to add later in May.]  [M44, once thought to be a hole or weak spot in heaven or the realm of the dead, the Gate of Men for reincarnating souls, is also known as the Manger, Crib, the Little Cloud, Nubilum, the Nebula or Nebulosa, etc.  In Arabic it was or is Al-Ma'laf, the Stall.  It was called Tseih She Ke, or "Exhalation of Piled-up Corpses," in China; Mercury was seen to be less than a degree from the cluster on June 9, 118 CE according to Chinese records -- Robert Hinckley Allen's 1899 Star Names.]  

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower [pieces of Halley's Comet, along with the Orionid shower] peaks May 5-6th, though it is visible before and after [until around May 28th], and there are more obscure showers; the Northern Hemisphere's spring isn't a very meteor-rich season:  www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/2020-meteor-shower-list/ , www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/ , www.amsmeteors.org/2025/05/meteor-activity-outlook-for-may-3-9-2025/

According to Astronomy magazine for May, Saturn has an equinox May 6th, and its rings are edge-on to the Sun and hard to see from the Earth.

The relatively bright, but I think actually quite dark-colored asteroid 4 Vesta reached opposition May 2nd, with magnitude 5.7, and is in the south, between the bright stars Arcturus and Spica, specifically at the west of Libra/east end of Virgo and moving westward in the constellation.  [Vesta will be closest to the Earth around the 7th.]  Asteroid Metis, in the same area of sky, will be at opposition May 9th and Juno on May 14th.

The first quarter Moon was May 4th, it will be full on the 12th, the last quarter will be May 20th, and the New Moon will be on the 26th.  It will be near Spica and at apogee on the 10th, near Antares on the 14th, near Saturn and Neptune on the 22nd, near Venus on the 23rd, at perigee on the 25th, and near Jupiter on the 28th.  "Morning star" Venus' greatest western elongation is on the 31st.]     

[In theory a trace of a crescent Moon can be seen, very low in the sky, immediately before and after it is New, half an hour before dawn May 26th and near sunset on the 27th, but higher in the sky.]

A Resist NATO CounterSummit and Protest will take place June 21-22 in the Netherlands, at The Hague:  internationalsolidarity.org/resist-nato/ and www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ci_zwNgd_E

The People’s Summit for Korea will be held in New York City July 25-27th:  peoplessummitforkorea.org

More events are listed in the late March post linked at the top.

In 'free,' 'democratic' western Ukraine:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/vives-en-ucrania-me-oyes-mujer-acosa-a-un-nino-por-escuchar-musica-en-ruso/

In Sweden:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/poder-extranjero-en-un-pais-de-la-otan-quieren-expropiar-una-iglesia-rusa/

Samidoun's Mohammed Khatib attacked in Belgium:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/23/detienen-en-bruselas-al-coordinador-europeo-de-samidoun-horas-despues-le-han-puesto-en-libertad/

samidoun.net/2025/04/samidoun-europe-coordinator-mohammed-khatib-released-following-arrest-in-belgium-stand-together-against-repression-and-genocide/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/24/la-verdad-toda-la-verdad-y-nada-mas-que-la-verdad-pravda/

Sovkhoz former state farms in Russia; one marked its 105th anniversary November 10th last year:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/las-colectividades-continuan-en-rusia-el-sovjos-lenin-de-moscu/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/26/jefe-del-estado-mayor-ruso-soldados-de-la-rpdc-ayudaron-en-la-derrota-de-kiev-en-kursk/

simplicius76.substack.com/p/russian-general-staff-confirms-north

The CPRF near Kursk:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/25/comunistas-de-kursk-entregaron-las-tarjetas-de-militantes-a-militares-que-decidieron-unirse-al-pcfr/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/27/la-cia-confirma-que-el-hijo-de-una-alto-cargo-de-la-agencia-murio-en-el-conflicto-ucraniano/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/25/los-paises-balticos-son-los-peleles-perfectos-para-arrastrar-a-europa-a-una-guerra-contra-rusia/

On China's space program and surpassing the "West:"  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/26/el-dios-que-se-ha-ido-mientras-el-dragon-va/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/22/serios-problemas/

[This is satire, but I think based on real news; I worried about the Egyptian lynx's safety, if captured by the Israeli military:  www.normalisland.co.uk/p/israel-ecstatic-to-have-captured new Hamas leader]

On Lenin at 155:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/22/lenin-sigue-hablandonos/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/25/arteka-la-revolucion-si-es-posible/

On Telegram:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/22/durov-telegram-nunca-ha-revelado-mensajes-privados-de-los-usuarios-en-sus-12-anos-de-existencia/

On 9/11:  diario-octubre.com/2025/04/24/tucker-carlson-confidente-de-trump-revela-la-verdad-sobre-el-11-de-septiembre-con-curt-weldon/

mpr21.info/los-trabajadores-de-google-luchan-contra-la-firma-de-acuerdos-militares-con-israel/

diario-octubre.com/2025/04/25/palantir-vende-un-sistema-de-guerra-inteligente-a-la-otan/

A new issue of Class Struggle 

The fourth issue of Class Struggle was published April 25th and it will be posted at:  redstarpublishers.org/ClassStruggle/index.html  Offers of articles are welcome, they say.      

Contents:

For a United Front against Fascism and War – As Trump Supports Israel's Attack on Palestine – He Also Attacks our Democratic Rights

Criticism of the Article Below

Why Didn't the Ceasefire Last?

Displacement Plans:  How Israel and the U.S. Are Reshaping the Palestinian Landscape?

Income Growth Over Time graph

FRSO Labor Commission statement on Trump's assault on unions 

DOGE cuts are bloodthirsty assaults on already insufficient concessions to working people  [from APL]

Self-criticism on the left:  An inevitable and essential necessity [from the Dominican Republic; acento.com.do ] 

From Stalin's speech at the 19th Congress of the CPSU, 1952

Reshuffle in the capitalist economy  [from the PCMLE]

La autocritica en la izquierda:  Una necesidad inevitable e imprescindible

Del discurso de Stalin en el 19 congreso del PCUS, 1952

Remeson en la economia capitalista 

UNAC: Statement of solidarity with Iran and Yemen against escalating US and Israeli aggression

Originally sent out on the afternoon of April 21st and first posted at:  nepajac.org/Iranyemen.htm  

Note – the leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah was apparently born May 22, 1979 in the Saada Governorate, at the northwest corner of country, at the time the Yemen Arab Republic or North Yemen:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul-Malik_al-Houthi

Statement of Solidarity with Iran and Yemen Against Escalating U.S. and Israeli Aggression

[Photo:  Protest in Yemen for Palestine]

The United Anti War Coalition, which was founded 15 years ago to gather forces to oppose all U.S. wars, called at that time for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel.  We see the real threat to regional and global peace comes not from the sovereign actions of Iran and Yemen, but from the genocidal, murderous imperatives of the United States and its Zionist ally, Israel. Iran pursues a peaceful nuclear program for energy security and economic progress under international law; yet U.S. and Israeli regimes distort its objectives with fabricated intelligence, extremist rhetoric, and aggressive military planning designed to force regime change and impose maximum-pressure sanctions. On Palm Sunday, Israel bombed the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza—crippling vital health services—while U.S. forces escalated their campaign in Yemen by targeting hospitals, factories, and water infrastructure near Sanaa. In Yemen, Ansar Allah demonstrated resolute self-defense by downing the 19th U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, a powerful rebuke to imperial aggression.

Iran and Yemen stand as sovereign nations that exercise self-determination and valiantly support Palestinian resistance. Their independent resolve challenges U.S. and Israeli plans to transform regional actors into vassal states—just as they have subdued Gulf monarchies like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. Iran and Yemen are the last robust bulwarks against complete U.S./Zionist domination in West Asia. U.S. provocations have forced these nations to build sophisticated underground defenses and hardened military capabilities that protect their people and counter imperial designs. Iran defends its right to maintain a nuclear deterrent—a cornerstone of its sovereignty—without any obligation to disarm until Israel first dismantles its illegal, unmonitored nuclear arsenal.

In Yemen, the United States remains unaware of where Ansar Allah and the Yemeni Armed Forces conceal their command centers and heavy weapons. As a result, U.S. forces target civilian infrastructure and murder innocents in a misguided attempt to weaken a determined people. Despite these brutal tactics, millions of Yemenis take to the streets every Friday to demonstrate their solidarity with Palestine, support Ansar Allah under Sayyed Malik Al Houthi, and reaffirm their unwavering determination to defeat U.S. and Israeli-led imperialism.

We must not repeat the tragic inaction that allowed Syria to collapse; our silence then emboldened brutal US-backed proxies and cost countless lives. Today, Iran and Yemen stand as vital resistances against an imperial system bent on subjugating sovereign nations. It is our moral and strategic duty to defend their sovereignty and right to self-defense as vigorously as we defend Palestine’s right to resist occupation.

Victory to Iran and Yemen! Down with imperialism and Zionism!

 

Toufan on the recent US-Iran negotiations in Muscat – Hands off Iran!

Slightly edited on DS.

 On the sidelines of the Iran-U.S. Talks in Oman

The Conditions Under Which the Regime of Iran Agrees to Negotiate with the U.S.

The first round of "indirect” negotiations between Iran and the United States was held on Saturday, April 12 in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

In these talks, the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the American delegation was headed by Steve Witkoff. Both sides described the discussions as “positive and constructive,” and the negotiations are scheduled to continue in Rome, Italy, next Saturday, April 19, 2025.

The talks were conducted in written form and were “indirect.” Fewer than ten documents were exchanged between the two sides. The first document was delivered by Araghchi. The content of the document has not yet been made public. In his messages, Araghchi stated that Iran had not come to Muscat for show, rather, Tehran's main goal is to assess the sincerity and seriousness of the American side and to determine the feasibility of reaching an agreement.

It was emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be the only foreign body allowed to oversee Iran’s nuclear program. In exchange for nuclear restrictions and monitoring, Tehran is demanding the lifting of sanctions in several sectors. Furthermore, once these sanctions are lifted, the United States must not reimpose them under other pretexts.

Araghchi also stipulated that a general framework agreement is essential for the continuation of the negotiations. If the U.S. rejects Iran’s proposed framework in the first session, it must present an alternative for Iran to review.

On Saturday, Iran told the U.S. that the responsibility for ensuring the "snapback mechanism" is not activated rests entirely with Washington. Witkoff brought two individuals with him to Muscat, one of whom is a nuclear affairs expert.

The European Troika (UK, France, and Germany) is deeply concerned about being sidelined in this process.

The White House, in a statement, described the first round of talks in Oman as “very positive and constructive.”

The statement read: “Special envoy Witkoff emphasized to Dr. Araghchi that he has been tasked by President Trump to resolve the disputes between the two countries through dialogue and diplomacy, if possible.”

The statement continued: “These issues are very complex, and today’s direct engagement by the U.S. special envoy was a step forward toward achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.” The White House also announced that both sides will meet again next Saturday (April 19).

Now, considering the rapid developments in recent months, the intensifying psychological warfare, and rising tensions between Iran and the United States, it is worth examining several key points regarding the reasons behind these negotiations and their objectives.

Iran Is Negotiating with the U.S. from a Position of Weakness.

The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has agreed to these negotiations while in a position of weakness. This is a repetition of modern Iranian history. When the former leader of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, drank the "chalice of poison" to end a futile war, leaving half of it behind in the cup for other leaders of the Islamic Republic to inherit, so they too could eventually drink it in full under the guise of "revolutionary flexibility" and "revolutionary expediency" in negotiations with the United States.

The Supreme Leader's labeling of negotiations with Donald Trump's administration as dishonorable, and then suddenly reversing course a few days later by accepting "indirect" talks with the U.S. in Oman, came as a cold-water shock to his supporters.

The reality is that, after decades of political repression and implementing a chaotic neoliberal economic system, the Islamic Republic has lost much of its domestic and regional capabilities. Now, solely for the sake of its own survival, it is conceding on Iran's national interests in the face of U.S. imperialist bullying, and accepting unprincipled compromises.

The regime entered the negotiations at a time when its political and military influence in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and elsewhere has significantly diminished, and in Syria, it has lost its influence entirely.

The illegal economic, political, cultural and especially financial siege of Iran has severely weakened the country’s economic and financial foundations. This has forced the regime to shift the burden of this devastating crisis onto the shoulders of the Iranian people, particularly the working class and the lower segments of society.

The regime’s cronies, rent-seekers, corrupt families, and collaborators, the pirates looting Iran’s national resources on land, remain untouched by the pressure of these sanctions. They continue to funnel billions in foreign currency to overseas bank accounts on behalf of the Islamic Republic's leaders. Meanwhile, these inhumane sanctions, which bring inflation, unemployment, and poverty, have fueled a wave of social discontent within Iran, weakening the regime’s popular base. As a result, the government now leans heavily on the small ruling elite; those who benefit from the privileges of the Islamic Republic. The regime grows increasingly fearful of the people’s struggle and resistance.

In response, it resorts to repression, censorship, and the imprisonment of critics to maintain its grip on power. The Islamic Republic is primarily focused on saving its own rule, which means that preserving Iran’s independence and national interests is no longer a fundamental priority.

These realities are not hidden, especially not from imperialist powers, chief among them the United States. In fact, the U.S., which has played an active role in creating this situation, has access to extensive intelligence on the regime through its electronic surveillance agencies. It is well-aware of which regime officials have stolen money and how much they have stashed in foreign banks.

American imperialism spares no effort in provoking and sabotaging Iran’s border regions through the establishment of military bases nearby, provocations in the Persian Gulf, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance over Iranian territory.

Among these developments, the joint U.S.-British naval base in Diego Garcia has recently become a new focal point for escalating tensions. B2 bombers have been stationed there; the same type of aircraft that have been used in recent months to carry out attacks on Yemen. In response, Iran has issued serious warnings, declaring that any act of aggression will be met with a decisive reaction. This is not the first time Washington has deployed warships to the region.

Meanwhile, the “1945” digital news platform reported on this U.S. move, stating: "B2 stealth bombers are now gathering at Diego Garcia." The report adds that the world is now aware that the United States has transferred around one-quarter of its B2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet to Diego Garcia, the island that hosts the U.S. naval base in the Indo-Pacific region.

Under such conditions, marked by growing public discontent, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consented to negotiations with the United States. Yet, from the outset, the outcome of these talks bears the seeds of a bitter and ultimately fruitless harvest for Iran and its people.

The Islamic Republic, as a capitalist regime, has long adhered to the policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund — adopting their views on suppressing Iran’s working class, reducing wages, preventing strikes, banning the formation of independent labour unions, restricting the political activity of grassroots political organizations, dismantling customs protections, pushing forward privatization, and sacrificing the wealth of the Iranian people to the interests of these Western imperialist institutions.

The leadership of this policy began with President Rafsanjani and has been continued by all administrations of subsequent presidents; from Mohammad Khatami to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Raisi, and now Masoud Pezeshkian.

In the past, the Islamic Republic shamefully retreated on Iran’s nuclear issue, surrendering its legitimate rights. By betraying national interests, it signed the infamous JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), thereby squandering countless opportunities and dismantling or suspending vital nuclear activities, all in the misguided hope that the U.S. imperialists would pursue peaceful relations with the regime. Yet the more the Iranian regime complies with Washington’s demands, the more emboldened the U.S. becomes in its efforts to extract further concessions.

American imperialists seek the very life of Iran. They demand that Iran recognize Israel, become a major American base in the region against China and Russia, and allow the U.S. free rein in Iran, to plunder resources without limit and to install or remove governments at will.

Obviously, such imperialist bullying poses a serious threat to the survival of the Iranian regime. The Islamic Republic’s pivot toward China and Russia, a shift it avoided until the end of Donald Trump’s first term due to pressure from American-aligned factions within Iran, is not simply a matter of internal preference. It is also the result of the maximum pressure campaign and inhumane sanctions imposed by the U.S. from outside, which drove Iran further eastward.

Even the signing of the 25-year cooperation agreement with China was delayed until after Joe Biden came to power, as the Rouhani faction still held out hope for reconciliation with the U.S. However, once Biden took office and it became clear that the aggression against China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and possibly even India, was part of his strategic agenda in the region, Iran's leadership lost all illusions about compromise or making concessions to the United States.

Naturally, the imperialist China also observed these developments and recognized that Iran was negotiating from a weakened position, a reality that would take it into account. The Iranian government approached China with caution, always keeping one eye on the United States. But Biden dashed all the regime’s hopes, breaking the resistance of the pro-American faction within Iran, even before Iran’s own elections. Now, with the return of Donald Trump to power, the situation has changed dramatically. The regional crisis has deepened, and Iran’s allied forces have also become weaker.

What is the United States' objective in engaging in negotiations, and what are its demands from Iran.

Our party has repeatedly stated and emphasized that the issue of Iran’s nuclear program is just an excuse and does not have serious significance. Iran has been under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for years, and even U.S. intelligence agencies have stated that Iran does not have nuclear weapons and is not pursuing the production of such weapons. Yet, despite this, the U.S. continues its lies, hostility, and sabotage, maintaining its political, economic, and psychological pressures against the regime and the country.

The truth is that U.S. imperialists have long set their policy regarding Iran. Ultimately, they want Iran to become a semi-colonial state, like it was under the Shah. They want a country that acts as the regional gendarme, collaborating with imperialists to plunder the region’s energy resources and ensure their extraction and transfer to Western markets. They want Iran to oppose China, Russia, and, at the appropriate time, India, Japan, and possibly Europe, so that the U.S. can control the geopolitical and energy chokepoint of the world, tightening or loosening the grip at will. They want Iran to be aligned with them, not with China, in their strategic policy in the Pacific Ocean in the coming decades.

Their issue, contrary to the claims of misled or self-serving Iranians, is not the enrichment of uranium or the nuclear issue. For this reason, Donald Trump, like his predecessor, lies: the Iranian nuclear weapon is just a pretext, a propaganda tool to rally public opinion and disarm Iran. The goal is to exhaust the adversary, offer negotiations and a “great deal,” prevent the production of nuclear weapons under any condition, stop Iran from supporting resistance movements like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen, and ultimately address issues like missiles and drones. These are the demands of the U.S. to disarm Iran in favor of the interests and strategic objectives of American imperialism and Israeli Zionism in the region.

What is Donald Trump’s Tactic Toward Iran?

In his second term as president, Donald Trump has entered the arena with a new tactic. Whereas he used to speak about Iran in an aggressive and threatening tone, this time he has adopted a different and seemingly peace-seeking rhetoric. In a message he recently released, he emphasized that he "wishes success for Iran," but at the same time, he reiterated his red line regarding Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons.

While in recent months there has been speculation about a potential escalation in military tensions and even the possibility of a joint U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, Trump dismissed these claims as "exaggerated" and instead spoke of the idea of a "credible nuclear peace deal." He even suggested that, after signing such an agreement, a "major Middle Eastern celebration" should be held.

This shift in Trump’s tone is no coincidence. During his first term of presidency, he pursued a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran and withdrew from the nuclear deal (JCPOA). With this new message, he is aiming to create the perception among the Iranian public that the leaders of the Islamic Republic themselves are the obstacle to resolving the nuclear issue. In such a context, if sanctions are intensified or even a military action occurs, Trump will attempt placing the blame for the crisis on Iran rather than on U.S. policies.

The Islamic Republic’s Capitalist Regime at an Impasse

The continuation of the second round of "indirect negotiations" in Italy, the resulting optimism in Iranian public opinion, and the temporary dip in the value of the dollar are merely short-term remedies to escape a deep political and economic crisis in Iran. The current situation in Iran is likely to persist in this state for some time, with increasing disorder. Economic sanctions will not be lifted, and even if they were, it would not translate into any real, practical transformation in Iran’s economic and financial life. The economic crisis and the hardships faced by the Iranian people stem primarily from domestic policies, with economic sanctions merely exacerbating the situation and not accounting for all of Iran’s current problems.

The industrial infrastructure, spare parts, or aircraft fleets that Iran needs are not sitting covered in dust in warehouses in imperialist countries, ready to be shipped. These items first need to be produced and then sent to Iran based on future economic agreements, a process that could take years. The unfreezing of Iran’s blocked assets in the United States does not mean these assets will be freely returned to Iran. The U.S. will not hand over cash to Iran; instead, in return for Iran stepping back from uranium enrichment, it will likely offer lines of credit that must be used to purchase American goods for export to Iran.

The U.S. will undoubtedly impose binding and restrictive agreements on Iran and pressure it to align with American policies in the region.

The Islamic Republic Regime: Isolated and at an Impasse

Since the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic has followed a path that has increasingly alienated it from the Iranian people. It has become the object of growing public resentment and ridicule. The regime has tried to rule through repression and coercion, attempting to control the population with brute force. As a result, it actively suppresses public debate over the true goals behind the "indirect negotiations" in Oman and Italy, especially when such discussions threaten to expose hidden agendas. These talks are concealed from the public, with no accountability to anyone.

This policy of distancing itself from the people is, in fact, welcomed by imperialist powers, as it makes it easier to pressure and manipulate the regime for their own interests. Today, the Islamic Republic finds itself at a dead end and can clearly see that it has lost one of its key regional allies, Syria. While Hezbollah in Lebanon still exists and is in the process of reorganizing and rebuilding, the region itself has changed.

It is now up to Iran to decide its course: either to reconcile with the United States and submit fully to its terms, or to rely on its people and resist the foreign imperialist threat and aggression. There is no longer a middle path. Every move the regime makes now reflects only its crisis, paralysis, and lack of clear direction.

What is the solution?

The only viable path forward for the Islamic Republic is to respect the rights of the people, meet their demands, allow political and labour organizations to operate freely, lift censorship from the mass media, and rebuild trust between the state and the public. It must arrest and prosecute corrupt officials and government-linked criminals and bring those responsible for execution of hundreds of thousands to justice in people’s courts. By doing so, it may build a mountain of popular support.

Only with that foundation of public backing can a country stand up to imperialist coercion and conspiracies. With the strength of such support, it could confront the threats and bullying of figures like Donald Trump, defend the national interests of the people. Through such a support, Iran can assert its rightful claim to peaceful nuclear energy use, or even, if necessary for national defense and deterrence, acquire nuclear weapons.

Through a policy of good-neighborly relations, Iran could also resist the plots of Zionism and regional reactionary forces. The destruction of Zionism depends on the governments mobilizing and respecting the rights of regional people.

But today, the Islamic Republic is trapped in a situation it can no longer escape. Ultimately, it appears the regime will be forced to throw itself into the arms of imperialism, hoping to shield itself from the “harm of events”.

In the Current Crisis, What Is the Duty of Communists?

In today’s critical situation, it is the duty of communists, specifically our Party, and all revolutionary forces to raise awareness about the betrayals of the Islamic Republic regime and to stand firmly against U.S. imperialism, its bullying, sanctions, and military threats. We must work toward the building and strengthening of independent organizations of the masses, especially the working class. We must not allow the regime to strike deals over the national interests of the Iranian people or to preserve its own rule through compromises with imperialism.

In the face of the potential danger of military aggression against Iran, communists must take to the field with clear and principled slogans. We must commit ourselves to mobilizing the public both within Iran and internationally. The slogan “Hands off Iran!” is the most accurate and effective rallying cry to unite the people and resist imperialist interference. This slogan embodies patriotism, anti-imperialism, and the power to mobilize millions in Iran as well as global public opinion.

Defending workers’ rights, specifically the fight to raise wages, establish independent labour unions, abolish exploitative contract labour systems, and stop privatizations and layoffs, are among the concrete tasks that must be carried out alongside the fight against foreign enemies. There is no alternative path out of this deadlock.

We must emphasize that, as history has repeatedly shown, in today’s era only the party of the working class, as the true representative of the proletariat, bears the historic mission of leading the struggle for liberation, defending Iran’s national independence and territorial integrity, and establishing socialism. Let us dedicate ourselves to this revolutionary and emancipatory goal, let us raise high the banner of this lofty goal!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

April 16, 2025

(This is the English translation of the article published in Toufan No. 302)

ADC 100 Days Town Hall, Simi Valley police brutality lawsuit, "The Teacher," on Easter 2025 in Gaza and Pope Francis, and other news

These statements and more, on the case of Mahmoud Khalil, harassment of lawyers by immigration authorities at entry points, the many Arab-Americans (paradoxically) appointed by the same administration, the 110th anniversary of the genocide against Armenians that began April 24, 1915 in Ottoman Turkey, etc. are posted at:  adc.org/media/press-releases/ 

Register here: ADC Townhall - 100 Days of the Trump Administration

Register here: ADC Townhall - 100 Days of the Trump Administration

Sent out the evening of April 23rd:

“I Was Tased and Dragged From My Home” – ADC Lawsuit Alleges Police Brutality

Dear [ ] ,

Simi Valley, CA | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), alongside HH Law Firm, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Nabil Shukair, a Palestinian American subjected to ongoing harassment, racism, and a recent violent police encounter in Simi Valley, California. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, contends that Mr. Shukair’s constitutional rights were violated when police officers, responding to baseless “terrorist” accusations, arrived at his home with weapons drawn and ultimately tased him unconscious.

 

The lawsuit details how video evidence reveals a neighbor driving by Mr. Shukair’s residence while shouting racial slurs and threats, followed by an unfounded call to the police identifying Mr. Shukair as a “Hamas terrorist.” According to the complaint, rather than verifying these inflammatory claims, Simi Valley police officers arrived at Mr. Shukair’s property on September 11, 2024, and immediately escalated into violent action. Video footage shows officers drawing their firearms and tasing Mr. Shukair within seconds, knocking him unconscious and dragging him out of his garage.

 

“I was tased and dragged from my home,” said Mr. Shukair. “This isn’t just about me—it’s about protecting our communities from being treated like suspects instead of people.”

 

The lawsuit raises critical questions about why specialized law enforcement units were not deployed if officers genuinely suspected terrorist activity, and why a more thorough investigation was not conducted prior to the use of such force. Instead, the complaint asserts, the responding officers relied solely on a racially charged tip—contrary to ordinary standards of investigative diligence.

 

“This case highlights the discrimination Arab Americans face when unverified, racially motivated accusations are immediately accepted,” said ADC National Legal Director Chris Godshall-Bennett. “Mr. Shukair was confronted by officers with guns drawn in his own home, tased unconscious, and subjected to illegal searches. The officers’ actions were motivated by nothing more than anti-Palestinian racism and they must be held accountable.”

 

“Our client has endured months of harassment and racist vitriol. The escalation on September 11 was particularly shocking,” said attorney Hani Habbas of HH Law Firm. “Officers arrived at Mr. Shukair’s house, forcefully entered the property, used a taser on him without warning, and dragged him onto the street while he was incapacitated. These actions directly violated his First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.”

 

Alleged Constitutional Violations and Key Claims

• Excessive Force & Unlawful Seizure: The complaint states that Simi Valley Police officers violated the Fourth Amendment by tasing and seizing Mr. Shukair without probable cause or any indication of a threat.
• Equal Protection & Discrimination: Officers purportedly targeted Mr. Shukair based on his Palestinian identity and an unverified tip labeling him a terrorist, in breach of the Fourteenth Amendment.
• First Amendment Retaliation: Mr. Shukair’s verbal objections to officers drawing weapons in his garage and his attempt to record the encounter allegedly prompted an escalated response, amounting to retaliation for protected speech.
• Unlawful Searches: The complaint claims that the officers conducted warrantless searches of Mr. Shukair’s home and vehicle after he was rendered unconscious and handcuffed, in further violation of the Fourth Amendment.

In addition, the lawsuit asserts various state law claims, including violations of California’s Bane Act and Ralph Act, as well as common law torts such as assault, battery, false arrest/imprisonment, and the intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

 

Mr. Shukair seeks:

• Compensatory Damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
• Punitive Damages against individual officers whose actions are alleged to have been intentional or carried out with reckless disregard for his constitutional rights.
• Attorneys’ Fees and Costs under federal and state civil rights statutes.
• Judicial Declarations that the officers’ actions violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and parallel rights under California law.

The complaint questions the Simi Valley Police Department’s decision-making and training practices, pointing to a pattern of immediate, aggressive action against Mr. Shukair despite the lack of credible corroboration of the neighbor’s accusations. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Shukair was held in custody without proper explanation or medical care. No formal charges were ever brought.

 

By filing this action, ADC and HH Law Firm aim to hold Simi Valley authorities accountable for what they describe as an egregious violation of constitutional principles, while also ensuring that no one else in the community endures a similar experience rooted in racial animus or inadequate investigative protocols.

Sent out the evening of April 24th:

40 years after Alex Odeh, we're opening new doors

Dear ADC Members and Supporters,   I write to you with profound excitement and determination: ADC is returning to Southern California with a new office in Anaheim’s Little Arabia. This moment marks our first local presence in Orange County since the tragic murder of our beloved leader, Alex Odeh, nearly 40 years ago. The opening of this office is a testament to our community’s resilience and our unshakeable commitment to justice.   Our new Anaheim office will be a hub for legal services, community support, and business advocacy. Through it, we will provide direct assistance to individuals and local entrepreneurs, advocate for Middle Eastern and North African business certifications, and stand firm against discrimination. We open these doors without fear, honoring Alex Odeh’s legacy and living out ADC’s founding promise to protect and empower Arab Americans.

MAKE A $25 DONATION TODAY!

Yet even as we celebrate this milestone, the reality of injustice remains. Yesterday, ADC and HH Law Firm filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Palestinian American Mr. Nabil Shukair, who was racially profiled, violently arrested, and tased unconscious by Simi Valley police officers. This case lays bare the discrimination our community continues to face, and it underscores how vital it is for ADC to remain vigilant in defending the rights of Arab Americans.   Our national efforts—including the new Anaheim office and legal battles like Mr. Shukair’s—depend on the collective support of our members. We are 45 years strong and now count more than 130,000 members across the country. But every step forward requires resources to fund legal proceedings, keep our offices running, and ensure we have the tools to fight injustice in and out of the courtroom.   I ask that you make a tax-deductible donation to ADC today. Your contribution will help sustain our operations, power our legal advocacy, and uphold the legacy of those who gave their lives for the cause of equality. Together, we’ll show that no amount of hate can silence our community or break the solidarity we’ve built over these 45 years.

SUPPORT ADC TODAY

Thank you for standing with us, in Anaheim and beyond. In solidarity, Abed Ayoub National Executive Director American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

Sent out the evening of April 21st; slightly edited:

To Our Arab Christian Sisters and Brothers

Dear [ ] ,

Washington, D.C. | Yesterday, millions of Arab Christians celebrated Easter with Christians across the world. We offer warm greetings to those who recently celebrated. For centuries, the vital presence of Arab Christians, whose devotion to peace, justice, and compassion has long enriched both the Middle East and the global community. Despite a common misconception, Arab Christians constitute a vibrant and integral part of our shared heritage, underscoring the diversity that has long been a hallmark of the Arab world.

 

Unfortunately, Arab Christians, along with other religious minorities in the Middle East, are targeted for how they worship or who they are. In what should be a time of celebration in Palestine, the birthplace of Christianity, Arab Christians are under constant bombardment from Israel. The historic Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City—one of the world’s oldest Christian churches—was bombed on October 19, 2023, killing 18 displaced civilians sheltering inside. Many Christians have sought refuge in the few remaining churches, relying on them for basic necessities and a measure of safety. Before the genocide, Gaza’s Christian population numbered around 2,000, mostly Greek Orthodox. Sadly, that number continues to dwindle as deaths and displacement mount. 

 

Israel has destroyed over 200 cultural and historical sites, and more than 340 mosques—among them the iconic 700-year-old Great Omari Mosque. At least three churches have also been severely damaged, including St. Porphyrius Church itself. At least 16 cemeteries have been desecrated. And Christians across the Middle East face similar threats, with key sites damaged in attacks that further endanger this small yet longstanding community.

 

While many Christian leaders and groups in the U.S. justify the genocide, Pope Francis, who passed away earlier today, made nightly calls to Gaza’s Christian community from the onset of the genocide, boldly amplifying their voices when much of the world looked away. We mourn his loss, as his  persistent stand against the ongoing oppression of Christians in Palestine—and of all those enduring occupation and violence—remains a testament to moral courage.

ADC calls on all world leaders to protect religious minorities by condemning violence against any faith community and holding perpetrators accountable, ensuring that no one is targeted for how they worship or who they are. 

 

In this spirit, ADC remains devoted to our mission, urging those in power to reject genocide, end cycles of violence, and protect the dispossessed. May hope and resilience guide us forward as we strive for the day when every community—regardless of creed—can celebrate in peace.

Sent out the evening of April 16th:

"The Teacher" Now in Theater — A Palestinian Story You Need to See

Dear Friends, We are proud to highlight the opening of The Teacher, a bold and emotional new film centered on the Palestinian experience — now playing in theaters nationwide starting April 11. Set in the occupied West Bank, The Teacher follows the journey of a Palestinian schoolteacher torn between his underground role in political resistance and his growing emotional bonds — both to a promising student and a new relationship with a foreign aid worker. The film is a haunting and human exploration of love, struggle, and sacrifice under occupation. 🎟️ In theaters across the nation - get your tickets now! We encourage our community to support Palestinian storytelling and amplify voices from the region that are too often silenced or distorted in mainstream media. 👉 Bring your friends. Share the film. Start the conversation. Let’s fill theaters with our presence — and ensure stories like this one are seen, heard, and remembered. In solidarity, The ADC Team

About ADC   The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S., founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk.  ADC’s mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of at least 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through its work, ADC fights discrimination in the U.S., enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice. Click Here to Donate Today

[Reposting:

Dear Friends,

We are proud to highlight the opening of The Teacher, a bold and emotional new film centered on the Palestinian experience — now playing in theaters nationwide starting April 11.

Set in the occupied West Bank, The Teacher follows the journey of a Palestinian schoolteacher torn between his underground role in political resistance and his growing emotional bonds — both to a promising student and a new relationship with a foreign aid worker. The film is a haunting and human exploration of love, struggle, and sacrifice under occupation.

🎟️ In theaters across the nation - get your tickets now!

We encourage our community to support Palestinian storytelling and amplify voices from the region that are too often silenced or distorted in mainstream media.

👉 Bring your friends. Share the film. Start the conversation.

Let’s fill theaters with our presence — and ensure stories like this one are seen, heard, and remembered.

In solidarity,

The ADC Team]