Division as opposing ideologies face off at "emergency" Iran war protest in Portsmouth

The ‘hands off Iran’ protest was arranged by Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth as people gathered in Guildhall Square on Friday, March 6. Protestors held up signs displaying the message ‘stop Trump’s wars’ as they called for a stop to the bombing of Iran by the United States and Israel.

As the protest started, a number of people turned up to speak in opposition to the protestors, with one of them holding up the flag of Israel.

Simon Magorian, of Stand Up To Racism, said: “I think the regime is despicable but it is up to the people of Iran to change it. It is not going to be changed by Israeli and American bombs. The whole thing is appalling and we are seeing it escalate more with Lebanon being bombed. We are opposed to this war taking place and we are opposed to the escalation.”

Other counter-protesters believed the bombing was necessary to help free the Iranian people stating they “need someone to stand up for them”.

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It has been seven days since the United States and Israel first bombed Iran with strikes hitting Tehran and a number of other cities, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then retaliated targeting Israel and US bases in the Middle East.

A suspected drone strike then hit the UK’s RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus which led to Kier Starmer deploying HMS Dragon to the region to protect the British military at the base as well as the Island itself.

However, HMS Dragon remains in Portsmouth since its deployment was announced on Tuesday with defence minister Al Carns stating she had been fitted out for a different mission, and needed welding with weapons removed and reinstalled.

Find pictures from the protest below: