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The illegality of military attacks on Iran

One reads or hears little about the illegality of the military attacks on Iran under international law. Here are excerpts from what one organization that dares to address that subject has published. It deserves wider circulation.

The Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF) published on June 19 a blog explaining how Israel’s attacks against Iran constitute unlawful military aggression, made possible only by the impunity it has so far received from Western states for the attacks it has launched throughout the Middle East. 

Israel’s bombing of nuclear installations, Iranian officials and civilian buildings in Iran violates international law. At the time of writing, Israeli airstrikes have targeted hospitals, markets, water and fuel infrastructure, killing 406 Iranians, more than 90 per cent of them civilians. 

Israel claims that it launched these attacks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. But Israel’s attacks were timed to wreck the negotiations ongoing between Iran and the United States to reach a new deal. Israel’s attacks on Iran are not about uranium enrichment but about “regime change” in Iran and “regional dominance” of Israel. 

In a further statement, WILPF called on all states to: 
 • Condemn the Israel and US attacks on Iran and support diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of violence. 
 • Impose a two-way arms embargo and comprehensive sanctions on Israel until there is full compliance with international law. 
 • End all military, intelligence, and nuclear cooperation with Israel and hold Israel accountable for committing international crimes and on the grounds that it has failed to comply with its conditions as a UN member state. 
 • Refuse to provide any logistical support for any further illegal attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including by denying permission for US B-2 or B-52 bombers attacking Iran to transit or refuel in their countries, and hold the US accountable for its unlawful attacks.

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