Campaigners addressed a call to MP’s in all 15 nations in the UN Security Council to challenge George Bush whose speech on Wednesday clearly spelled out his intention to take military intervention against Iran. The deployment of 21,500 new troops in neighbouring Iraq together his rhetoric about “securing the borders with Iran” and accusations that Iran is “providing sanctuary and support for Al Qaeda and other terrorists” caused great concern. But it was his explicit promise to “seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq" that is seen as a clear indication that Bush intends to use military force against Iran.

Without offering any evidence for his incendiary accusations George Bush’s claimed that “Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops”. His claims that Iran is harbouring Al Qaeda terrorists have been widely dismissed by experts, including Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s Middle East correspondent, who pointed out that the idea that the Shia administration in Iran bolstering Sunni extremism in the region was “highly unlikely”.

The deployment of an additional carrier strike group and Patriot anti-missile systems in the Middle East also signifies an intention of escalating the conflict in the region to include strikes against Iran. Today’s raid on the Iranian Consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil by US forces and the detention of six members of staff was a clear and aggressive breach of Iran’s sovereignty.

Professor Abbas Edalat of Campaign Iran said today:

“The heat is being turned up against Iran. Unsubstantiated and incendiary accusations against Iran are being made on a daily basis. The massive troop numbers and military hardware that the US already has in the region are being augmented. Threats are being made that are no longer coded but explicit. Time is ticking down on the deadline for Iran to comply with the illegitmate resolution pushed through UN condemning Iran for exercising its legal and inalienable right to pursue civilian nuclear technology. Yesterday the US bombed Somalia. Today the US raided the Iranian Consulate in Irbil. Unless we act now, who knows what will happen tomorrow.

We call on all governments and parliamentarians from all nations that are currently serving as permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council to stop this madness. We appeal to Russia and China as permanent members of the Security Council and who have, until now, played a crucial role in restraining the Bush Administration. We also appeal to the new non-permanent members of the Security Council, including the South Africans, to take a firm and principled stand and stop military intervention against Iran.

Letters have been sent to the governments and politicians of the permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council – Britain, Russia, China, America, France, South Africa, Indonesia, Italy, Belgium, Panama, Congo Republic, Ghana, Peru, Qatar and Slovakia. Our thanks to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva).

Contact: Professor Edalat on 0207 2292375
Press Office: 0797163005 or 07799650791

Visit www.campaigniran.org