The Tudeh Party of Iran, the historical political force of Iranian communists and Left has issued a scathing condemnation of the recent military escalation between Israel and Iran, attributing the devastating turn of events to the aggressive policies of "U.S. imperialism and its regional allies," particularly Israel, alongside the "anti-people regime of Velayat-e Faqih in Iran." The party warns that Iran is now in a "very precarious and dangerous situation," with its future held hostage by these conflicting forces.
In an editorial titled "Devastating war, struggle against imperialism, and national interests," published in Nameh Mardom, the Tudeh Party asserted that weeks of indirect negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the Trump administration, reportedly aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program, ultimately "turned into a convenient cover for a surprise Israeli attack." The party described the Israeli strikes on June 13, which included bombing nuclear facilities and assassinating IRGC commanders and scientists, as "criminal and terrorist attacks by Netanyahu's government."
The editorial argues that "the expansionist policies of global imperialism, led by the United States," have long enabled Israel to act with impunity, citing the occupation of Arab lands and the massacre of Palestinians. The Tudeh Party highlighted the recent killing of over 55,000 Palestinians in Gaza as evidence of the "erosion of international law" and the failure of international institutions. It noted the lack of condemnation from major Western powers—the UK, France, Germany, and the Trump administration—for Israel's attack on Iran, accusing them of merely calling for "restraint" while actively arming Israel and assisting in its defense.
Conversely, the Tudeh Party also heavily criticized the Iranian regime's policies. It stated that the Islamic Republic's "reckless policies, based on exporting the so-called 'Islamic Revolution,'" have inflicted immense harm, wasted "tens of billions of dollars of national revenue" on regional proxy groups, and ultimately "brought war, destruction, and danger back to Iran." The party accused the regime of representing "corrupt and big rentier capitalists" and using "hollow, populist slogans about fighting imperialism" as propaganda. At the same time, its security apparatus focuses on repressing domestic dissent, leaving the country vulnerable to foreign intelligence infiltration.
The Tudeh Party warns that continued Israeli bombings will lead to more casualties and widespread destruction of Iran's economic assets. It called upon "all progressive and freedom-loving forces" to oppose the war's expansion, which could give U.S. imperialism an excuse for direct intervention and "regime change." The party firmly rejected calls from "mercenary groups such as monarchists and the MEK" for broader military assaults, stating such actions would lead to Iran's destruction.
The editorial concludes by reiterating the Tudeh Party's belief that "Iran's future must be decided solely by the Iranian people." It calls for a transition from the current regime to a "popular government that guarantees the country's freedom and independence and lays the groundwork for social justice," achievable only through the struggles of Iranian citizens. The party emphasized that "the struggle for peace and preventing the country's annihilation is inseparable from the fight against dictatorship and the ruling reactionary regime, as well as the battle against the hegemonic and destructive policies of global imperialism."
The Tudeh Party: A History of Devastating War, Struggle Against Imperialism, and National Interests
The Tudeh Party of Iran, founded in 1941, has a long and tumultuous history deeply intertwined with Iran's encounters with devastating wars, its consistent struggle against foreign imperialism, and its stated commitment to the nation's sovereign interests. Emerging during the Anglo-Soviet occupation of Iran in World War II, the party initially gained significant traction among intellectuals and the working class, advocating for social justice, labor rights, and national independence.
Throughout its existence, the Tudeh Party has vocally opposed what it perceives as imperialist interventions in Iranian affairs, from British and later American influence over Iran's oil resources and political landscape to more recent geopolitical maneuvers. This anti-imperialist stance was central to its support for the nationalization of oil under Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in the early 1950s.
The party has endured severe repression under successive Iranian regimes. Following the 1953 CIA-MI6 orchestrated coup that overthrew Mosaddegh and reinstated the Shah, the Tudeh Party was banned, and its members faced arrest, torture, and execution. Despite this, it continued to operate underground and from exile. After the 1979 revolution, the party initially experienced a brief period of open activity. Still, it was again brutally suppressed by the Islamic Republic in the early 1980s, accused of espionage for the Soviet Union, leading to mass arrests and executions.
Despite these devastating setbacks, the Tudeh Party has persisted, maintaining its critique of both domestic authoritarianism and foreign interference, consistently framing its political agenda around the themes of safeguarding Iran's national interests, achieving democratic freedoms, and resisting imperialist designs that, in its view, often lead to war and instability in the region.