Protesters rally in London against US-Israeli strikes on Iran

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Protesters rally in London against US-Israeli strikes on Iran

2026-03-22 14:58 Last Updated At：03-23 00:47

Protesters rallied in London on Saturday against U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, an escalation that has heightened tensions in the Middle East and driven up global energy prices.

Chanting slogans and carrying banners reading "Stop bombing Iran", demonstrators urged the international community to press for a ceasefire and peaceful negotiations.

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Protesters rally in London against US-Israeli strikes on Iran

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Protesters rally in London against US-Israeli strikes on Iran

"We, the good people, are just getting used to sitting there and watching on our TVs, doing nothing, and not stopping it. And then Iran, and watching those people being slaughtered. Where are we going to end up? We've got to act; the time is urgent," said a protester.

A day before the rally, the British government approved U.S. use of its bases for operations aimed at degrading missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for one-fifth of the world's oil. The move has stirred controversy at home, with many protesters warning it would draw the UK deeper into the conflict and increase security risks.

"I think it's really important that we're on the streets. I also think one of our demands, which is that Britain doesn't allow the use of our bases for American strikes, is also very important," said a protester.

"Our membership of NATO drags us into the war, which the majority of British people oppose. Every poll shows that as to the majority of American people, as to obviously all the people to the Middle East, you know, so it's a deeply unpopular war of aggression," said another protester.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East. Media reports suggest more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran during the war.

Oil prices climbed on Friday, with Brent crude for May delivery rising 3.54 U.S. dollars to 112.19 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate for April delivery adding 2.18 U.S. dollars to 98.32, extending a surge of about 50 percent since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began.

As the war drags on, large anti-war rallies have spread across the UK with the public expressing growing concern over the conflict’s escalation.

U.S. enterprises are welcome to seize development opportunities in China: vice premier

Enterprises from the United States are welcome to seize the development opportunities in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the country, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said in Beijing on Sunday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).

Noting that China-U.S. ties are the world's most important bilateral relations, He said it is hoped that the USCBC will continue to play its role as a bridge to promote friendly exchanges and the steady and healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States.

It is also hoped that U.S. enterprises can fully seize the development opportunities in China, make good use of the potential of the Chinese market, and inject more stability and positive energy into China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He added.

Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the USCBC, Sean Stein, president of the USCBC, and other members from the delegation noted that the U.S. business sector is optimistic about China's economic development prospects. They expressed the willingness to further explore the Chinese market, play an active role, and continuously deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.