Trump's war on Iran has escalated once more. It's again dangerous to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. And the oil price is going back up. Before the war started on 28 February, the price was $78/barrel. Then it jumped to $120/barrel, and along with it, everyone's energy bills jumped too.

    But then came that so-called Memorandum of Understanding, signed on 17 June. The fighting stopped. The oil priced dropped. However, Trump has declared this agreement "over" and claims "he" will now take over control of the Strait.

    Surging energy costs will hit the economic growth agendas, which all governments are trying to pursue. Indeed, "growth" has been the watchword of Starmer's government and this is precisely what his replacement, Andy Burnham, has been promising, as the way to fund all the "changes" he offers. But now crisis looms again...

    Accordingly, Allan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, announced an emergency debate on Iran this Wednesday. This infuriated the Tories because they were meant to have an "Opposition Day" to demand an extra sitting of parliament to quiz Andy Burnham on his policy plans. Not that he would have attended! Or that it would have had the slightest import!

    However, war on Iran does impact everyone. What's more, the blockage of the Strait not only hits the oil price, but it also hits the workers and crews on tankers - which are left adrift and become targets for US and Iranian shells or get hit in the crossfire.

    And all this for what? The delusions and lies of a US president who claims he is "preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon" When the late Ayatollah, Trump's very first target in this war, had already declared in 2003 that nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islamic Law!

    In fact Trump is only trying to cover for his miscalculation - one more, after so many - in starting this war against Iran in the first place. It's tragedy and farce wrapped up into one; US imperialism in caricature, having long passed its sell-by date. Its defeat would be in all our interests. But that will be the future task of the American working class...