International Law under siege

On the morning of Saturday, February 28, 2026, coinciding with the tenth day of the holy month of Ramadan, the working week began with the sound of multiple explosions in Tehran and some other cities in Iran, signifying start of a new joint aggression by the Israeli regime and the United States of America against Iran; this was despite the fact that Iran had been negotiating with the United States with full readiness and good faith for the previous weeks, and upon the admission of the Foreign Minister of Oman, who played a very active role as a mediator in these negotiations, an agreement seemed quite within reach.

This is Iran’s second similar experience of foreign aggression in the midst of very serious and result-oriented negotiations in just the past eight months. But this was in no way due to Iranian naivety. Iran entered the negotiations still feeling the bitter experience of disloyalty and betrayal of the diplomatic process by the other side; yet again, the serious concerns of a number of neighbors – including Türkiye, Qatar, and Oman – about the consequences of a military conflict in the region, and their insistence and continued efforts, convinced Iran to return to the negotiating table with the United States to prove its case. It is no longer a secret to anyone that Iran entered the dialogue with utmost flexibility and clear initiatives, and honestly made every effort to prevent another war.

But, as predicted, the joint aggression of the Israeli regime and the United States of America once again attacked the negotiating table and all international rules and norms. Worse still, according to senior American officials, this aggression had been planned and premeditated for a long time, meaning that the entire negotiation process was a deception operation from the beginning, not only against Iran but also against the entire international community and the governments involved in the mediation process. This clearly shows that the American claim that the Iranian side was not serious in the negotiation process is nothing more than an absurd and false claim to deceive Americans and world public opinion. In addition, the claim of the notorious US President that the aggression against Iran was a pre-emptive action against Iran’s intention to attack America has also been rejected by the Pentagon and its intelligence agencies.

This aggression began with an attack on the home of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in the martyrdom of him and a number of his family members, including children as young as one year old and continued on the same day with several missile attacks on an elementary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran, which victimized 165 young children, not older than 11; demonstrating yet again the extent of brutality, lawlessness and policy and practice of terrorism of the Israeli regime and the United States in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles, rules and norms of International law including those related to the inviolability of heads of states and civilian targets.

In addition, the entrenched pattern of deliberate, widespread, systematic and brutal attacks of the genocidal Israeli regime with the complicity of the US government, jointly and separately, directed against civilian residential buildings and infrastructures including hospitals, schools, Red Crescent premises, media outlets, water and energy reservoirs and much more show the scope and magnitude of the heinous crimes by these two.

It goes without saying that this, by all means, is an illegal and unprovoked aggression. The current acts of aggression constitute gross violations of international law and the very purpose and principles of the UN charter to protect sovereignty, territorial integrity and prohibition of the threat or use of force enshrined therein. It is worth recalling that based on international law, every state is also under obligation not to allow its territory to be used for acts in gross violation of the rights of other states such as conducting or otherwise in any manner supporting acts of aggression which violate the right to sovereignty and to political independence.

Renewed aggression of the Israeli regime and the United States is an egregious symbol of erosion of global order, incapability of international institutions, weakening of international law and substitution of naked enforcement, mounting lawlessness and return of total imperialism where the international community and even responsible international institutions and organizations censor the names of the aggressors; a huge mistake that will entail much greater costs for the world. The US announced policy of peace through strength has been violently applied as hegemony through force and Israel as the biggest beneficiary of this policy is fully addicted to aggression and brutality with no cost. Based on this pattern, this kind of aggressions can happen against any other country in the region again soon, If the region does not stand up to this oppression.

Iran’s Response

I.R. Iran, as one of the traditional powers of West Asia, has never initiated any war and for decades, has been playing the role of a responsible and accountable actor with no hesitation to make sacrifices to protect the region’s interests and confront its threats. Numerous cases of Iran’s efforts and sacrifices to contribute to regional stability in combating terrorism and extremism, effectively confronting the global threat of ISIS, confronting drug production and trafficking, and other such cases are fully documented and undeniable. Even Iran’s repeated restraint in recent years in the face of provocations and aggressions by enemies, with the aim of maintaining stability and preventing military conflicts, has been a result of this responsible role and stance.

Unfortunately, the continuation of this responsible approach and constant restraint led some regional and trans-regional actors to misperceive it and misunderstand that this performance was due to Iran’s weakness and inability to respond. The perception that Iran’s response to any conspiracy, assassination, or aggression will be measured and calculated, has been misleading for this group of actors. This misperception was continuing in a situation where the Islamic Republic of Iran had repeatedly warned that it would not tolerate the continuation and repetition of the Israeli regime’s threats. Besides, in recent months, Iran had repeatedly warned, in response to the constant threats of war and the US military campaign in the region, that it would consider any aggression as an existential threat and would respond harshly and proportionately in accordance with such a threat.

In addition, Iran has always emphasized on indivisibility of security in the region. This has been the constant foundation of Iran’s policy in pursuing its neighborhood policy, emphasizing the need to bolster regional cooperation in various economic, political, and security areas, and pursuing regional security arrangements with the idea of forming a solid, strong region. In a solid, strong region, all countries in the region enjoy security and development and contribute to each other’s security and development. In such a region, the security of one actor will not come at the expense of the insecurity of another actor.

However, the situation is clear, evident and simple now. The I.R. Iran has been under constant foreign threat and aggression during last few months. These aggressions cannot be justified by spreading preposterous lies and worn-out platitude cloaked under the fake and deceptive term as so-called as “Pre-emptive attack” which has no basis in international law. The main and officially declared goal of the current aggression has been brazenly introduced as regime change in Iran and even its disintegration to materialize US control over Iran’s oil and global energy resources and also Israeli hegemony over the region!

Facing such an existential threat, Iran is now responding decisively in exercise of its inherent right to self-defense as stipulated in article 51 of the UN Charter and in accordance with international law including international humanitarian law. Iranians, historically, have not faltered in their resolve to defend their homeland against aggressors. At the same time, Iranians have been prudent enough to learn lessons from their previous experiences. Therefore, to avoid this vicious cycle of war- ceasefire- war and to prevent a future aggression, this war is not only defensive, but also it pursues punishment of aggressors and their accomplice by imposing optimum cost on them. This is considered very necessary to guarantee a credible deterrence for the future.

Based on earlier warning, Iran does not observe any redline defending itself. It goes without saying that Iran highly respects the principle of good neighborliness and fraternity with it brotherly neighboring countries. The current defensive measures are solely aimed at legitimate targets belonging to the United States and Israeli regime located in certain countries in the region which since long have been actively operating against Iran’s interests and security. It is very unfortunate that based on concrete and undeniable evidences, the soil and space of some of our neighbors are still being freely used in the current aggression against Iran.

Iran has done a great job till now and has successfully balanced back and now has an upper hand in the vast battle field now. In fact, Iran’s performance has exceeded the expectations of the aggressors and by inflicting painful damages on them, has caused growing differences inside and between the aggressors, mounting prices of energy and increasing pressure on opposite front. This pressure is clearly evident in Trump’s confusion and frustration. Based on Trump’s behavioral pattern, his fumbling attempts to justify the logic of the war, his frequent changes in war objectives, false claims on his complete command on the situation, and exaggerated displays in describing their capabilities and achievements clearly show that he has effectively lost control of the situation.

This war was not our choice. This war was imposed on us. This is a patriotic war and Iranians have always shown throughout history that they will not hesitate to sacrifice even their lives in defense of their land, integrity, and honor.

This is our world and we all are responsible in protecting it. We, Iranians, expect all awakened consciences of the region and the world to stand on the right side of history. We must not leave the oppressors and aggressors to continue with impunity!

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