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Corbyn to join anti-war protesters demanding US stepback from the brink with Iran

JEREMY CORBYN will join tens of thousands of protesters across Britain on Saturday calling for “no war with Iran.” 

Anti-war campaigners are demanding the British government prevent the escalating tensions between Iran and the US. 

The “critical” situation follows the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on Friday January 3 in Iraq by a US missile strike. 

The attack was ordered by US President Donald Trump. 

Protest organisers Stop the War described the assassination as “a provocative act that has taken us terrifyingly close to a new war in the Middle East.”

The group’s convener Lindsey German warned: “The situation remains critical.

“We need to mount maximum pressure on our government and on the Trump administration to prevent further escalation.”

Protests are expected in multiple towns and cities across the country including London, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Chesterfield, Liverpool and Manchester.

In the capital, the march begins outside the BBC on Portland Street at 12pm before heading to Trafalgar Square. 

Crowds are expected to hear from Mr Corbyn, a former chair of Stop the War, musician Brian Eno and Joe Glenton from Veterans for Peace alongside Iranian and Iraqi speakers, as well as shadow home secretary Diane Abbott.

The leader of the Labour Party has previously branded the killing of the Iranian general “illegal” and a violation of international law.

The mass demonstrations, co-organised by CND, have also received support from transport union RMT. 

“We all saw the devastation that the 2003 Iraq war created and the last thing that region needs is another conflict waged by warmongering politicians,” said RMT general secretary Mick Cash.

“We’ll be there to send a clear message to the UK and US governments: No war on Iran.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson described the Trump administration’s foreign policy with Iran as “steps to war.” 

She said: “US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the reimposition of crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy and the US extra-judicial killing in a sovereign state are all steps to war.

“The danger of war remains high and the Prime Minister must exert every influence to ensure a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

“Unless the sanctions are lifted, war and nuclear proliferation are a real threat.

“Britain must do more to alleviate the sanctions and push to salvage the Iran nuclear deal.”

Stop the War and CND have both slammed PM Boris Johnson’s reluctance to condemn the assassination. 

The killing of Mr Soleimani sent shock waves across the globe and enraged the Iranian public who came out in huge numbers to demand revenge on the US. 

Iran retaliated the following Tuesday by firing more than a dozen missiles at US-coalition bases in Iraq. 

The Iraqi congress has demanded US troops leave the country immediately.

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