From the Independent and Peaceful Australian Network (IPAN)

The Federal Government should show disagreement with President Trump’s decision to conduct the illegal assassination of Iranian General Soleimani in Baghdad by halting its plans to send the HMAS Toowoomba to the Straits of Hormuz, says the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN).

Sending the Toowoomba now is a ‘provocative’ move, according to IPAN.  In IPAN’s view it sends a message of support for the USA’s action, where there should be condemnation.

“This recent military commitment must now be viewed in the context of President Trump’s illegal assassination of Qassem Soleimani,” stated Mr Nick Deane, Spokesperson for IPAN.  “Prime Minister Morrison has justified sending the warship to Iran as ‘guarding oil supplies’,” said Mr Deane, “In fact, the greatest threat to trade in the region is the very real threat of war.”

Media reports have stated that, “According to [Iraqi Prime Minister] Abdul-Mahdi, he had planned to meet Soleimani on the morning the general was killed to discuss a diplomatic rapprochement that Iraq was brokering between Iran and Saudi Arabia…Soleimani had arrived in Baghdad not to plan attacks on American targets, but to coordinate de-escalation with Saudi Arabia.

The recent US actions have the potential for provoking war against Iran. A war with Iran would have devastating impacts on the lives of people in the region and lives of Australian soldiers, should Australia be drawn yet again into another illegal US led war.

Australia must learn lessons from the Iraq invasion which led to mass loss of lives and ongoing human misery, an escalation of terrorism across the world, destruction of the environment in Iraq and huge wastage of money, and for what?

War with Iran has the potential to be far worse than war with Iraq, given the capacity of the Iranian military.

“Australians have no interest in making an enemy of Iran and should not support the US’s provocative and illegal actions. Our Government must make this clear,” stated Mr Deane.

“The Australian Government must do all in its power to diffuse the situation in the Middle East, and to reverse its decision to send HMAS Toowoomba to the Strait of Hormuz”.

“In addition, the Australian Government should respect the decision of the Iraqi Parliament to have all foreign troops expelled from Iraq and bring those Australian troops currently in Iraq, home, immediately”.