Tehran:The recent military attacks by the United States against Iran have raised significant legal concerns on the international stage. These actions have been criticized for violating the principles of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the sovereignty of other nations.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the attacks by the United States, along with those by the Zionist regime, are seen as a clear contravention of international law. The U.N. Charter specifically sets limits on the use of force, allowing it only under narrowly defined circumstances such as self-defense. The U.S. actions lacked authorization from the U.N. Security Council and were based on speculative future threats, which do not meet the legal criteria for self-defense.

Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The International Court of Justice has reinforced this as a fundamental rule of customary international law. The American legal community has also challenged the legality of the U.S. attacks, with the president of the American Branch of the International Law Association describing them as unlawful.

The attacks have targeted civilian areas, including schools, sports stadiums, and nuclear facilities, raising further questions under international humanitarian law. Such actions require adherence to the principles that distinguish military targets from civilians and prohibit disproportionate attacks. Under U.N. General Assembly Resolution 3314, such acts constitute aggression, making the United States responsible for breaching international obligations.

Iran retains the right of self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. The broader implications of this conflict threaten the credibility of the international legal order, which aims to prevent states from resorting to force arbitrarily. If unchecked, the precedence of military power over legal obligations could jeopardize global security and the authority of the U.N. Charter.