On June 18, Iranians will cast their votes for their 13th presidential election since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Whatever the result might be, this election will have one loser: the people of Iran. A resilient nation that has been suffering from the most severe and crippling economic sanctions ever used against any country to this day, while, like the rest of the world, Iran’s economy has been shattered because of the pandemic.

No doubt that the pandemic and sanctions are not the only reasons for the unbearable economic situation of Iran. Rather, mismanagements and institutionalized corruption are important reasons as well. Nonetheless, a large part of the current devastating condition is the result of the Maximum Pressure Campaign designed by the Trump administration. Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the successful Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 that followed by the implementation of the Maximum Pressure Campaign marks the beginning of such suffering for the people of Iran.

While it is difficult to call the Maximum Pressure Campaign a policy at all, it is easy to point at it as a failure to reach what it was planned for. The Maximum Pressure Campaign was said to be planned to force Iran’s government to change its malign activities, according to Pompeo. Nonetheless, it is known that the main objective has been the regime change in Iran by its people.

The idea was to use the economic tool to keep the people of Iran devastated and hungry to the point that they revolt against their own government and topple the regime. In other words, the plan was to use economic terrorism, as Javad Zarif called it, to push the Iranian people to make the change desired by Netanyahu, Pompeo, and Kushner. The result however has been very different. The revolt that was expected by the Trump administration didn’t take place. Rather the people of Iran have suffered through and decided to keep silent to prevent foreign aggression.

The maximum pressure campaign only has weakened Iran’s democratic movements and has created a loss of hope in the nation. In other words, the result of the maximum pressure campaign is being revealed now, a week before the presidential election. Whereas, unlike any other previous elections, there is no enthusiasm among people. No hope for a change for the better.

According to a new poll a large percentage of Iranians are disappointed with the current moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, and see his economic policy as a failure. This view compels the people to support critics of Rouhani. The opposite party. The Osul-Garayan (Principlists). Principlists in a historical context, are shown to be more conservative in social and cultural policies. They intend to have more constraints over social movements, suppressed press, and democratic progress. Principlists often encourage further religious control over society and culture. As it is obvious to many Iranians, the Principlists are not the best options for Iran’s social, cultural, and democratic progress.

Hence, what Trump did in 2018 by unilateral withdrawal from the successful JCPOA, only created negative impacts on one of the largest and powerful nations in the chaotic region of the Middle East. Instead of empowering people, the US policy toward Iran has empowered the conservatives who have historically controlled and suppressed women’s power, labor’s power, minority power, and in one glance the People Power.

There is only a week to the election, and many Iranians remain undecided to vote, while conservative candidates are most popular only because they harshly criticize Rouhani, and reformists’ “naivety” to trust the U.S.

Having said that, it is important to know that a critic of the Trump administration is not going to wash out the problems with the election process in Iran by any means. Iran as a relatively new republic with only 40 years of voting experience has lots of problems to deal with. For one, the Guardian Council, the powerful entity who approves “eligible” candidates who pass the “constitutional qualifications” only through a harsh vetting process. Since the agency leans toward the conservative fraction of the Nezam (system) it often disregards reformists nominees. However, it never made decisions as it did this year.

This year, the Council did not approve any reformist candidate to run for the presidency. I believe this year the Council finds it easier to dismiss Reformist candidates due to the unpopularity of Rouhani as a reformist president. While the majority of Iranians are critical of the Guardian Council for not approving any reformist candidates, they do not feel comfortable to support reformists either.

Many Iranians see the unpopular Guardian Council decisions have been hand in hand with the Maximum Pressure Campaign to kill hope for a nation. In other words, the collapse of JCPOA in 2018 has been the best gift for the conservatives and a beginning to an end for the reformists. As an Iranian American, I only wish this weekend’s talks in Vienna make the move into JCPOA possible. Revitalizing JCPOA can bring back not only prospects of peace and tranquility for everyone in the region and the US as well, but also might bring back a better perspective for the democratic movements in Iran.

The post Iran’s June 18 Elections: How Much Will Change? appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

We also plan to expose US attempts to discredit Cuba’s internationalist healthcare program, from labeling it as a form of human trafficking to pushing governments not to accept Cuba’s aid, and to build opposition to such crass and mean-spirited sabotage.

We hope Cuba’s example will inspire those of us in other countries to promote policies and actions that are more compassionate and generous in not only combating pandemics but building a more just, peaceful and verdant world. Join us in asking the Nobel Committee to award Cuba’s Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade a Nobel Peace Prize!

The post Help the Cuban Doctors receive the Nobel Peace Prize appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Our militaristic foreign policy — a policy that has led us to become a global bully — affects everything from migration to the environment, from poverty here at home to poverty abroad. If the US were a Good Neighbor, not only would people in Latin America be better off, but people in the US would be better off as well.

The post Pledge to Support the Good Neighbor Policy appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

1) National Action to End the Korean War: June 1 – 5, 2020/National Advocacy Week

In the 70th anniversary year of the unended Korean War, join hundreds of people across the country in nationally coordinated virtual advocacy meetings to urge your Member of Congress to support a peace agreement to end the Korean War and the lifting of sanctions for life-saving humanitarian assistance. Register here by May 15. 

Organized by Korea Peace Network, Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network, Peace Treaty Now, and Women Cross DMZ 

2) Webinar: Shifting from “Security” to “Peace” in Korea

Thursday, May 21, 2020: 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Click here to register

Why have the U.S. and North Korea been at war for 70 years? How do we get to peace? What makes us truly secure?

Join this webinar with Dr. Han S. Park on the need for a radical shift toward a peace paradigm in Korea. English to Korean interpretation will be provided.

Han S. Park is University Professor Emeritus of International Affairs and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues (GLOBIS) at the University of Georgia. Dr. Park has visited North Korea more than 50 times since 1981 to further efforts for diplomacy and peacemaking. He was instrumental in President Jimmy Carter’s visit to North Korea in 1994 to avert military confrontation and President Bill Clinton’s visit to Pyongyang to free detained American journalists in 2009.

Hosted by Korea Peace Network, Korea Peace Now Grassroots Network, Peace Treaty Now, Re’Generation Movement, Women Cross DMZ

3) Join CODEPINK and World Beyond War for the last two installments of their 5-part Divest from the War Machine webinar series. 

Tuesday, May 12: Divesting Universities; 5 – 6 pm PT/8 – 9 pm ET. Register here. 

Tuesday May 19: Coalition Building Across Movements; 3 – 4 pm PT/6 – 7 pm ET

Register here.

4) Did you know the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, invests billions of dollars in weapons manufacturers? Thursday, May 21, at 7:30 am ET, join CODEPINK and allies for the People’s Blackrock Stakeholders’ Protest.  Take action online as the BlackRock shareholders meeting will be taking place virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The post Take Action to End the Korean War and Divest From the War Machine! appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

With the onslaught of the global pandemic, the targeted countries — especially Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Zimbabwe — are finding it prohibitively difficult to protect and save the lives of their citizens in the face of the ongoing global emergency. These sanctions constitute crimes against humanity.

United for Peace & Justice has joined with other groups to call for the lifting of these crippling sanctions. Please add your name to the Open Letter to the Government of the United States and the United Nations demanding that all U.S. and UN sanctions against the targeted nations be lifted, and all U.S. military threats and actions against them be stopped immediately. The Open Letter is available in several languages.

Stay home (if you can), stay safe and stay healthy!

The UFPJ Coordinating Committee

The post Open Letter to the United Nations and the Government of the United States to Lift Sanctions appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

–UFPJ joined more than 350 groups signing onto an urgent letter, initiated by the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, 5 Principles for Just COVID-19 Relief and Stimulus, demanding swift and unprecedented action from the federal government. The letter was delivered to the Senate on March 20, 2020.

–A February 12, 2020 letter to members of Congress, initiated by American Friends Service Committee and signed by UFPJ and 37 other organizations, voiced strong support for new legislation that would ensure Congressional control and oversight over the use of sanctions by the executive branch. The bill also mandates independent assessments on the impact of U.S. sanctions and requires reporting on whether they comply with U.S. treaty obligations.

–UFPJ joined more than 50 organizations signing a letter urging Senators to vote yes on  S.J.Res.68, a war powers resolution to terminate the unauthorized use of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. The letter, initiated by Win Without War, was sent to the Senate on Feb. 11, 2020.

The post United For Peace and Justice endorses initiatives for peace and economic justice appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Dear Movement Family,

Today we joined faith leaders, including denominational and national leadership, with moral advocates across the country in requesting that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights hold our government accountable for violating the UN Charter and escalating us toward war with Iran. This afternoon we formally requested a meeting with High Commissioner Bachelet. As the request began:

“We write gravely disturbed, indeed outraged, by the death that is occurring because of our President’s rogue actions in the Middle East. His willingness to bypass congressional approval, violate international law, pardon convicted war criminals, implement harsher sanctions and abandon existing peace deals, sets a dangerous precedent that can have continued lethal and destabilizing results.

The US President’s order to carry out a lethal drone strike violated the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force. The assassination of General Qassim Suleimani represented an act of war against a country with whom the United States was not at war. Trump’s claim of imminent danger from Suleimani is unfounded and must be investigated.

The threat to add new sanctions to Iran, and to involve the NATO military alliance, all indicate that the threat of war remains very real. Furthermore, we know that the majority of impact from these sanctions will be on the poor.”

We know that in the words of Rev. Dr. King “war is the enemy of the poor.”  We must say no to war and militarism.

Join us in our request. Sign here. Share it widely as we humbly and whole-heartedly work to keep our country from war and our world from the dangerous precedence of immoral and unaccountable leadership. Our people across the world are hurting, and it’s gone on far too long.

We know that together we can and must revive the heart and soul of this nation.

Join our signatures here.

Forward together,

Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach

Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center

Co-Chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

The post Poor People’s Campaign Calls on UN to Hold U.S. Accountable for War Crimes appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

In Solidarity with CODEPINK, the United for Peace & Justice Coordinating Committee supports their message below:

Last night bombs were falling and it seemed like another major Middle East war was breaking out.

But Iran intentionally didn’t cause any casualties with its missile attack on the Ain al-Assad and Erbil U.S. military bases Iraq. Iran warned Iraq and probably even the U.S. before the strike so people could evacuate the area. Iran announced that its retaliation for General Soleimani’s assassination would be complete as long as the U.S. does not retaliate, leaving the ball in Trump’s court.

Even though Trump is not striking back militarily, we are still on the brink and we must MOBILIZE QUICKLY to stop this war.

Tomorrow, on January 9, in over 100 cities across the U.S., people will be taking to the streets to say PEACE WITH IRAN!

Find and join a protest in your city!

The assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani is the most dangerous foreign policy decision that Trump has made to date and responsibility for the present crisis rests solely at his feet. Trump’s tearing up of the Iran nuclear deal and imposing brutal sanctions laid the groundwork for the conflict to snowball. It is now up to us the people to stop the escalation and push Trump to lift the sanctions and withdraw U.S. forces from the Middle East.

Along with attending a protest tomorrow, Thursday, January 9, here are a number of other actions for you to take:

Add your name to our letter to the Iranian people apologizing for the actions of the Trump administration and pledging to do all that you can to stop a war and end the sanctions. We will stream the letter and names in both English and Farsi on January 25, the NO WAR WITH IRAN International Day of Action.

Tell Congress to pass a war powers resolution ensuring that Trump cannot go to war with Iran without congressional legislation. A floor vote is expected in the House next week and the Senate soon after that.

Get started on plans for an action in your city on Saturday, January 25, the No War With Iran International Day of Action. CODEPINK is here to help you organize and advertise your event and provide you with posters, talking points, press release templates, chants, social media graphics and more.

We are proud to be partnering with the National Iranian-American Council, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, ANSWER, Black Alliance for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Pastors for Peace and almost 100 other organizations. We must do everything that we can to stop Trump’s war on Iran, including the economic warfare of sanctions.

While Trump tries to goad Iran into war—going so far as to threaten war crimes—we will continue to respond with principled love for the people of the Middle East, who have already suffered for way too long from U.S. violence and aggression.

We must stop the next war.

In Solidarity with CODEPINK,

The United for Peace & Justice Coordinating Committee

The post Short Notice: Tomorrow, Jan 9, Join a Peace with Iran Rally in Your City appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

More than a million Iraqis have died during the past 28 years as a consequence of U.S. occupation, bombings, and sanctions. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have either been killed or suffered life-changing wounds. The U.S. government has spent more than $3 trillion dollars in the on-going occupation and bombing of this oil-rich country. Instead of taking the U.S. out of this endless war, Trump is building U.S. forces in the region and threatening a war with Iran.

On Saturday, January 4th people from around the United States will be organizing local demonstrations to demand: NO MORE U.S. TROOPS TO IRAQ OR THE MIDDLE EAST and U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW! NO WAR/NO SANCTIONS ON IRAN.

Join CODEPINK and many other anti-war and peace organizations at the White House at 12noon Saturday, January 4th to protest.

UFPJ, in solidarity with CodePink, encourages local groups to organize emergency vigils and standouts to protest!  

The post U.S. Troops Out of Iraq: National Day of Action Jan 4! appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

We Must Take Action.  We must demand Congress prevent the Trump Administration from going to war with Iran.   To that end, United for Peace & Justice has partnered with Veterans For Peace, a UFPJ member group.

Please read the Message and Call to Action from Veterans For Peace. 

Veterans For Peace firmly opposes U.S. attempts to increase tensions in the Persian Gulf and create the conditions for war against Iran.

The U.S. has created ongoing tensions with Iran by leaving the Iran Nuclear Deal, by imposing punishing economic sanctions, and by making questionable accusations against Iran.  Veterans know first-hand how dangerous lies and exaggerations can lead the American public into war.

It is imperative that the U.S. immediately begins seeking diplomatic solutions to conflicts instead of creating pretexts for war.

Veterans For Peace calls on the U.S. to: 

Draw down all its military forces from the Persian Gulf 

End its economic war against Iran, lifting sanctions immediately 

Re-join the six-country Iran Nuclear Deal 

End the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) that administration after administration has used to fund military expeditions around the globe under the guise of fighting the Islamophobic “War on Terror”

Read Veterans For Peace’s Entire Statement

What You Can Do
Help Us by Taking Action Now!

Send a Letter to Congress
Congress needs to hear from YOU!  If the march to war is not halted, the Iranian people’s suffering will only further increase and the U.S. will find itself bogged down in another costly war of choice.  Congress must block this administration’s path to war and push to return the U.S. to compliance with the nuclear deal and the negotiating table without delay.  Click Here to Take Action!

Call your Congressional Leaders 

Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative.

About Face: Veterans Against the War, created this script:
My name is _________ and I’m a constituent residing in _________.  I’m calling today because it’s time for Congressmember/Senator _________ to publicly declare their opposition to this administration’s drive to an unauthorized war with Iran.  The administration has gotten us to this point by stepping away from the Iran nuclear deal.  Ratcheting up military tensions with Iran is unacceptable.

Fast Against U.S. Sanctions
Veterans for Peace member, Sally Alice Thompson has been Fasting Against Sanctions and Siege since June 16^th.  Sally is 95 years old and she is on a hunger strike for the child victims of the U.S. government’s sanctions and war mongering on the countries where they live, Yemen, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela.

Sally Alice said, “I am fasting because I empathize with the many hungry children of the world, so I am joining them in their suffering.  I am outraged that our country is engaging in sanctions and sieges that result in starvation of babies and children.  I am profoundly saddened that my government interferes in the affairs of other countries, refusing to acknowledge their sovereignty and to respect their dignity.”

She invites anyone who shares these feelings to join her in her fast, by skipping a meal or fasting for a day or longer.  She would like to know if anyone joins her!  Please contact her at sally-aliceanddon@juno.com.

Take to the Streets!
It’s important to be visible during this time to show our opposition to war!  Join in or initiate public protests or vigils against war in Iran!  If you do take action, please email press@veteransforpeace.org!

Thank You for Working for Peace!

United for Peace & Justice Coordinating Committee & Veterans For Peace, a UFPJ member group

The post No War on Iran appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.