CPI(M) welcomes US-Iran MoU, urges Centre to cut fuel prices and ensure fertiliser supply

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive development that could ease global tensions and provide relief to economies affected by the recent conflict in West Asia.

In a statement issued by its Polit Bureau, the CPI(M) said the agreement between Washington and Tehran was expected to bring “much-needed relief” to people across the world who had been adversely affected by what it termed the “unwarranted US-Israel aggression against Iran”.

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According to the party, the MoU commits both sides to respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintaining a ceasefire until a final agreement is concluded. The understanding also envisages the removal of restrictions on Iranian ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran, in turn, will ensure the free passage of vessels through the strategic waterway.

The CPI(M) said these measures would help ease pressure on global supplies of energy and fertilisers. “Oil prices in the energy markets have already seen a decline,” the party noted, urging the government to take immediate steps to pass on the benefits to consumers by reducing the prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel.

The party also called on the Centre to act swiftly to secure adequate fertiliser supplies, particularly urea, for Indian farmers. It argued that improved maritime access and easing tensions in the region should help stabilise the availability of key agricultural inputs.

The Polit Bureau described the agreement as evidence of what it called the limits of “imperialist aggression,” claiming that the Iranian people had resisted sustained military and economic pressure. “The people of Iran have not succumbed to imperialist machinations but have resisted the US-Israel attacks,” the statement said.

The CPI(M) further asserted that the United States had been compelled to lift sanctions on Iran, agree to unfreeze Iranian assets and provide reparations for damages arising from the conflict. It said the Iranian government should utilise these resources to address pressing economic challenges and improve the living conditions of its citizens.

Linking the agreement to growing international opposition to the conflict, the party said widespread protests in the United States and several other countries had played a significant role in forcing a change in Washington’s approach. According to the CPI(M), public demonstrations against military action in Iran prompted governments in various countries to demand an immediate end to the hostilities.

The party also turned its attention to the broader regional situation, calling on Israel to refrain from military actions against Lebanon and adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In a pointed message to New Delhi, the CPI(M) said the Indian government should take note of what it described as global public sentiment against the policies of the United States and Israel. “The Government of India should realise, at least now, that global public sentiment is against the US and Israel and should desist from aligning with them,” the statement said.

The US-Iran MoU comes after weeks of heightened tensions in West Asia that disrupted global energy markets and raised concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas supplies. The agreement is being viewed by several observers as an important step towards de-escalation, although negotiations on a comprehensive settlement are expected to continue in the coming weeks.