The UK must not be dragged by Trump into yet another disastrous military adventure

We know from our experience of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya that it is relatively easy for politicians to decide to unleash upon a country and its people large-scale firepower. Tragically, we also know the nightmare that follows and the human suffering caused.

The most difficult part of the war process is not the launching of missiles and drones or the firing of the guns, but when the shooting ends and peace and stability must be secured.

That’s why politicians who have gone through this experience are wary of entering into armed conflict without the legal certainty that the war is just and within international law, and that there is a plan not just for the fight but for the peace.

What we have seen over the last few days is the extremes of recklessness and irresponsibility of Donald Trump, shepherded by Benjamin Netanyahu.

For a war that involves an attack on another sovereign state to be legal under international law, it must be sanctioned by the United Nations and it must be in response to an immediate threat.

Trump’s attack on Iran has neither been sanctioned by the United Nations nor is it in response to an immediate and imminent threat.

There may well be a perceived threat from an Iran seeking to develop nuclear weapons but, as we now know, the talks to resolve this issue between the United States and Iran were progressing. In addition, the US has claimed time and time again that it is capable of targeting and destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities – and has even targeted and killed Iran’s nuclear scientists.

It is absolutely clear from his own statements that the attack on Iran is aimed at regime change, completely contrary to international law and the UN Charter.

It’s yet another example of Trump’s attack on the rules-based international order put in place after the Second World War to prevent another global conflict and the loss of millions of lives.

It is also evident that Trump has no plan for when the military conflict ends – and, from the questions to Keir Starmer in parliament, that the prime minister has not been either consulted on or informed of any US post-war plan.

The risks now are immense. The existing brutal regime has already prepared for the death of the supreme leader, given his age of 86 years. To cling on, we know that a new and even more violent level of oppression will be launched by the regime’s Republican Guards against the Iranian people.

There is a risk of a bloody civil war as groups seek to secure a foothold in government, possibly on a regional basis.

Already, the war is spilling over into other countries as the region is set alight.

The UK is not immune to the effects of the war as oil supplies are reduced and petrol prices rise, resulting in inflation. Interest rates increase, and economic growth is stalled.

Initially, as the US and Israel launched the attack, Keir Starmer announced that our country would not participate. UK planes, he told us, would patrol to ensure defences were in place against military attacks on UK facilities.

Within hours, he had undertaken another famous U-turn and informed us that, as a result of the attack with missiles and drones by Iran on neighbouring states, he would allow British bases to be used by the US, but solely for defensive purposes. He published a summary of legal advice, arguing that as it was for defence, it was lawful.

There is some relief that Keir Starmer did not agree to participate in Trump’s attack. But there is a deep anxiety that the legal justification for allowing the use of UK bases by the US can now be used to justify further involvement in the conflict.

A number of MPs, including me, have demanded that any decision to further engage the UK in this war must come before parliament for a vote.

We fear that instead of working for a peaceful resolution of this conflict, we will be dragged into a disastrous military adventure by Donald Trump.

John McDonnell is a Labour MP and former shadow chancellor