2026-05-21

On the Devastating Consequences of the Recent War and the Path to Liberation from the Grip of War and Repression

From February 28 to today, May 20, for 82 days, we were unable to launch the Syndicate’s online platforms, even temporarily.

A devastating war completely disrupted the lives and struggles of us workers in every conceivable way. From the round-the-clock bombardments by the US and Israel—which made it crystal clear to everyone that “precision strikes,” “military aid,” and “humanitarian interventions” were nothing but a shameful and destructive deception—to the presence of the security and Basij suppressive forces on every street corner. This generated widespread fear, anxiety, and panic among the public over both the bombardments and the severe security crackdowns, compounded by skyrocketing inflation and the unacceptable internet shutdown by the government, which disrupted the work and lives of millions of people. It stripped the vast majority of the public, as well as independent organizations, including our Syndicate, of the ability to communicate and express themselves publicly.

For years, the Syndicate had warned against war, warmongering policies, and economic sanctions that have left the working class more impoverished and deprived, while making the holders of power and wealth stronger and more equipped. Both in the months leading up to the recent war and during the 12-day war itself, we repeatedly emphasized that the primary victims of war are not those in power, but workers and the deprived and oppressed masses. As we have consistently emphasized, we firmly condemn the military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, the killing of civilians, and the severe destruction inflicted upon infrastructure, factories, residential homes, hospitals, and schools.

Following the January uprising in our country, we declared that mass killings and the current executions in Iran’s vast, conscious, and diverse society will not only fail to curb protests and deep-seated social discontent but will also intensify the scope of public rage. We emphasized that the strengthening and continuation of class struggle and social movements seeking justice, freedom, and equality is the only path to liberation for us workers and the hardworking, oppressed people of Iran—not the military intervention of the US, Israel, or other power-seeking foreign governments and their affiliated forces and supporters.

This war has not only claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people, but has also targeted residential homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, including the country’s vital industries, resulting in millions of jobs being directly or indirectly destroyed or rendered even more precarious and insecure than ever before. The blows dealt by this war, particularly to the working class, the deprived people of Iran, our movements, and our ability to organize, cannot easily be repaired, but they will not stop the struggle of justice-seeking movements.

Ruling capitalism in our country and global capitalism place no value whatsoever on our lives and future. If they are calling for an end to this imperialist and devastating war today, it is purely from the standpoint of their own long-term interests, pressure from public opinion, the sharp rise in oil and gas prices, the scarcity of other essential goods, and the risk of a global economic recession—not out of concern for the fate of more than 90 million people living in Iran and millions of others across the region who have fallen victim to this war and its militaristic and repressive atmosphere.

The outbreak of the recent war also provided the Islamic Republic with a pretext to execute many political prisoners in so-called expedited trials, even beyond the framework of its own laws and regulations. As a result, dozens of people were executed within a short period of time, and thousands were arrested on baseless charges, accelerating the suffocating atmosphere of repression across the country to an even greater degree.

This war and all warmongering policies must be stopped immediately and completely. The threats by the United States and Israel to resume military attacks against Iran must end. Repression and executions carried out by the Islamic Republic under the pretext of wartime conditions must cease. The crisis of livelihoods, skyrocketing inflation, and mass unemployment caused by the war must be addressed through the immediate provision of free or affordable essential goods and services for the people. Discriminatory and class-based internet restrictions must be dismantled, and full and free access to the internet is the undeniable right of us workers and the toiling people of the country.

Our current limited access to the internet, through which we are trying to deliver our messages and reports, remains extremely fragile, and the possibility of maintaining it is entirely uncertain. Therefore, we take this opportunity to extend our solidarity and greetings to our hardworking colleagues in Tehran’s municipality bus company and transportation lines across the country; to all workers, teachers, medical personnel, retirees, women, students, children, and all people and social movements whose lives and struggles were disrupted and endangered by this devastating war. We also honor the memory of all civilians who were killed or injured in this war, including our beloved children in Minab—they are all dear to us.

We call on the international working class to continue standing resolutely against war and to further strengthen class solidarity in defense of the right to self-determination of the working class and the oppressed people of Iran and the region.

No to War and No to Warmongering Policies

No to Repression and Tyranny

In the hope of achieving peace and justice in Iran and throughout the world

The solution for workers and toilers lies in unity and organization.

Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company

May 20, 2026