On February 28, the US and Israel launched an assault on Iran. The whole world’s gaze is on Iran. Iran has become the number one agenda also in Europe. While the European Union and its leading member states have backed the assault on Iran, a wide array of parties, leaders, and public intellectuals across the continent have stood by Iran in the face of the US-Israeli attack.
Those who oppose what they describe as “imperialist aggression” emphasize that the real aim is not “democracy” or “freedom”, but to maintain global geopolitical and economic hegemony by suppressing any country that stands in the way. Many describe the US as a “rogue state” and Israel as a “genocidal state”.
“The US’ goal is regime change”
Sahra Wagenknecht, the founder and leader of the BSW until November 2025, released a video statement in the opening moments of the attack. She addressed the true aims of the US and the stance the German government ought to take. She said:
“The US-Israeli attack on Iran is a grave violation of international law and threatens to plunge the entire region into chaos. It is crystal clear that the US is not targeting Iran’s nuclear missiles, but rather a regime change that serves its own geopolitical ends. In fact, according to the mediator Oman, progress had been made in nuclear negotiations where Iran provided assurances that it would never use nuclear material to produce an atomic bomb.”
“Where has the US ever brought democracy?”
Wagenknecht continued by questioning the “democracy” narrative:
“The goal of the US is certainly not democracy. Where in the world have US wars and regime-change attempts ever led to democracy? Instead, the plight of the Iranian civilian population will only worsen, as they face the threat of death, suffering, and destruction. The German government must explicitly condemn this attack and push for de-escalation. Otherwise, it would be practicing a double standard and acting with total irresponsibility!”
A mere extension of US imperialism
Later, when Germany, France, and the UK issued statements condemning Iran following the countries was attacked, Wagenknecht accused these leaders of hypocrisy:
“Here is the double standard! While Trump attacks Iran in the middle of ongoing negotiations, Merz, Macron, and Starmer remain silent on the illegal US bombings while condemning Iran’s counterstrikes. Those who act with such double standards, as the Europeans do, should not be surprised when they no longer play a role on the international stage and are viewed as nothing more than an extension of US imperialism.”
“Bases must be closed, and arms shipments halted”
Wagenknecht further called on the EU and Germany to ban the use of military bases and stop arms shipments:
“Germany must clearly condemn the US attack and urgently press for an end to this war! The German government and the EU must prohibit the US from using German and European military bases to attack Iran, stop all arms shipments to the US and Israel, and work through the United Nations to prevent further escalation.”
“Not in Germany’s interest”
On the day the attack began, the AfD also released a statement through its parliamentary group leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. The statement urged an end to the war by emphasizing “Germany’s interests”:
“We have followed the US and Israeli attacks on Iran with great concern. We call on all warring parties to show unconditional restraint. The civilian population and infrastructure must be protected. International law and international humanitarian law must be applied without exception. A renewed destabilization of the Middle East is not in Germany’s interest and must be brought to an end.”
The threat of uncontrolled migration
In a second statement on her X account, Weidel raised the possibility of “uncontrolled migration” to Germany:
“The war against Iran carries the danger of a new wave of refugees coming to Germany from the Middle East. This must be prevented at all costs. The federal government must do everything in its power to ensure that the loss of control seen in 2015 is not repeated!”
By “the loss of control in 2015,” Weidel refers to the then-Merkel government’s decision to accept hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria. Merkel’s decision sparked heated debates that continue to this day, with the AfD emerging as one of its most vocal critics.
“Death to US-Israeli imperialism”
Jürgen Elsässer—editor-in-chief of Compact magazine has taken one of the clearest stands in Germany against the US-Israeli assault.
Elsässer is a politician connected to both the left-wing and right-wing traditions in the country. He supports the anti-US positions of both the BSW and the AfD, highlighting their common ground. Immediately after the attack began, Elsässer posted on X: “Trump and Netanyahu are war criminals! Death to US-Israeli imperialism!”. He accompanied the post with a graphic reading “Hands off Iran”.
Elsässer also shared images from various news agencies showing Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv and US bases. He further shared reports that 57 schoolgirls had lost their lives in the attacks on Iran. In another post, he elaborated on his views:
“Trump has violated his promises”
“War criminals: The US and Israel are attacking Iran! The US and Israel have launched a war of aggression against Iran in violation of international law. Under pressure from Netanyahu, perhaps due to the Epstein files, Trump has violated one of his most important campaign promises and resumed the aggressive policies of his predecessors.”
Schröder missed
Elsässer expressed that Germany should not support the war, recalling former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s opposition to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. He wrote, “A statesman like Gerhard Schröder, who opposed the Iraq war in 2003 in Germany’s interest, is sorely missed”.
Compact magazine announced a special issue dedicated to the topic immediately after the attack. The announcement read:
“The deep state continues to attack: Due to current events, we have rapidly prepared a special issue of Compact: ‘War Crimes: US Foreign Policy from Truman to Trump’. We show how all US presidents have lied and committed murders. These are basic facts that will immunize you against any kind of propaganda. (…) Regardless of who the president is, the Deep State continues its aggression. Donald Trump, who claimed he wanted to end the ‘world policeman’ policy, has not kept his word.”
“Friend of Genocide”
Jürgen Elsässer also responded to Gerald Grosz, an Austrian politician and former MP who led the BZÖ from 2013 to 2015. Following the start of the attack, Grosz posted on X: “Blow the brains out of the Islamist mullahs in Iran. Free the brave Iranian people!”. Elsässer replied: “This man is a hater of humanity, a friend of genocide, and a frequent speaker at major AfD events. A devil!”.
Mélenchon: against aggressors and the “oppressor” of the Iranian people
So, there are those in Europe who stand with Iran against the US-Israeli attack. On the other hand, there are those who condemn the attack as “imperialist aggression” and argue their countries should not support it, yet simultaneously target the late Ali Khamenei and Iran. One such figure is Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise.
In his first statement on February 28, Mélenchon described the US and Israel as “countries that start wars” and stated their goals were not “democratic freedoms”. Following the death of Ali Khamenei, however, he referred to the late Ayatollah as the “oppressor of the Iranian people”. Yet, he also took aim at Trump and Netanyahu:
“The death of Ali Khamenei, the oppressor of the Iranian people, does not justify the methods that caused it. Kidnapping or killing leaders whose policies we oppose constitutes a total rejection of international law. The war of the US and Israel is based on nothing but Trump and Netanyahu’s desire for dominance. This war initiates a new cycle of regional and global violence and tension. It is a war against international law, emphasized by the fact that it began immediately after Trump’s so-called peace council. In the face of increasing danger, law and the United Nations are France’s only recourse, now more than ever.”
Clash of supremacists
In a speech on March 1, Mélenchon grouped the late Khamenei with Trump and Netanyahu, labeling them all as “supremacists” (suprémacistes). He stated:
“We have entered an era where supremacists clash. Ali Khamenei and his accomplices declared a kind of supremacy within Islam and the Middle East. North American supremacy seeks dominance over the entire world. Netanyahu’s genocidal government defends ethnic supremacy. Supremacism is the evil of our age. We must defeat it.”
Le Pen failed the class
Marine Le Pen, the former leader of the National Rally (RN) and current chair of its parliamentary group, appears to have failed the test entirely. Le Pen was among those who openly supported the US and Israel. Claiming that Israel is fighting for “survival,” she characterized Iran as a “terror regime”. She said:
“For Israel, the war in Iran is a war of survival, because the mullah regime wants the State of Israel to disappear. The regime of Islamist mullahs is once again deliberately attacking Israel’s civilian population. (…) Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and especially the United Arab Emirates are today exposed to the attacks of the Iranian terror regime. France must be prepared to stand by its allies.”
Mick Wallace calls von der Leyen “an embarrassment to Europe”
Mick Wallace, an Irish socialist and former MEP (2019-2024), addressed European Commission President Von der Leyen, saying, “You are an embarrassment to the people of Europe”. Wallace posted on X:
“Long live the Iranian resistance against Western Terrorism and the Zionist Project. Von der Leyen, you are an embarrassment to the people of Europe. Iran does not attack any country without provocation, whereas the terrorist regimes in the US and Israel attack anyone they want with zero regard for international law. Western imperialism is plain for all to see. To hell with the ‘bought and sold’ mainstream media and political elites who refuse to tell the truth about Western imperialism’s attempt to destroy Iran.”
“Great Ayatollah Ali Khamenei”
Responding to Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s support for the US and Israel, Wallace asked:
“Will you stop doing business with the Israeli terror regime? Will Irish politicians have the courage to tell the truth about the US and Israel’s unjust and illegal attack?” After the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, Wallace shared the message: “Respect to Iran. Respect to the Great Ayatollah Ali Khamenei”.
Another remarkable statement came from Marc Botenga, Vice President of the Left group in the European Parliament. On his X account he wrote:
“The EU supports the illegal and unprovoked war of aggression launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. By refusing to defend the fundamental principles of international law, Europe legitimizes rogue states and endangers the lives of people worldwide. Shameful. Dangerous.”
Corbyn: Remember Bush and Blair
Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the UK Labour Party and current independent MP, also spoke boldly in a TV programme he attended:
“The Israeli and US attacks on Iran are illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified. Peace and diplomacy were possible. Instead, Israel and the U.S. chose war. This is how rogue states behave, and with this disastrous act of aggression, they have endangered the safety of humanity worldwide. Our government must condemn this blatant violation of international law and pursue a foreign policy based on justice, sovereignty, and peace. As the legacy of Bush and Blair shows, there is no legal basis for launching an attack for regime change. How many more disastrous US-led interventions do we need to learn these lessons?”
Spain: calls to leave NATO
In Spain, which has taken the clearest stance amongst states in Europe against the US-Israeli attack, tensions with the US are escalating. Irene Montero, MEP from the Podemos party, responded to this tension with a call to “leave NATO”, a stance that seems gaining significant support in the country. Montero said:
“The US and Israel have bombed Iran again. These illegal attacks make the U.S. and Israel the most dangerous criminals on the planet. How much longer will Europe continue to watch these crimes in silence? Spain must prevent the US from using our military bases and must exit NATO.”
