Peter Mertens, PVDA-PTB General Secretary, interviews Tudeh Party's Mohammad Omidvar
As US and Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Iran, Peter Mertens, PVDA-PTB's General Secretary, sat down with Mohammad Omidvar, spokesperson of the Tudeh Party of Iran - the country's oldest left-wing opposition party, founded in 1941 - to discuss the ongoing crisis from a progressive Iranian perspective.
In this urgent conversation, Omidvar covers:
The devastating human and infrastructural toll of the bombing campaign on Tehran, Isfahan and cities across Iran
Why the Tudeh Party of Iran condemns the war - and what it means for Iran's pro-democracy movement
The 1953 CIA/MI6 coup against elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and its lasting consequences for Iran and the Middle East
The real history of the Shah's regime: SAVAK secret police, torture, repression and US military presence
The December 2025 popular uprising in Iran: bazaar strikes, the women's movement, student protests and mass demonstrations in over 100 cities
Why US and Israeli interference undermines — not supports — the Iranian people's struggle for freedom and democracy
What the European and global peace movement can do right now to stop the war
The Tudeh Party's message is clear: the future of Iran must be decided by Iranians — not by Netanyahu, Trump or any foreign power.
🎤 Interview conducted by Peter Mertens on March 10th 2026
