Mansa is joined by Comrade Elizabeth to discuss how the bulk of the international Marxist left failed the test posed by the US bombing of Iran. Instead of taking a clear and simple stand in defense of an oppressed country under attack by imperialism, most tendencies, including within Iran, either shouted revolution and class war, equated Iran with Israel and the US, or chanted pacifist slogans that drew no line against their own bourgeoisies... yet they all carry on convinced that they did the right thing. The state of the Marxist left is dire and there is an urgent need to debate the failures of this episode in order to prepare for the looming chaos as US imperialism becomes increasingly belligerent. 

*Note - I mistakenly refer to Harold Daggett, leader of the ILA, as someone who said nothing about the war. In fact, he was for the war and congratulated Trump on the strikes against Iran. See his statement here: https://gcaptain.com/ila-president-lauds-trumps-iran-strike-in-unprecedented-union-endorsement-of-military-action/ 

This discussion is based on our article titled "Iran under attack: Marxists who failed the test" https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/2025-iran-left

Read our initial statement on the war here: https://iclfi.org/spartacist/en/2025-iran 

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