Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• mohammadreza dehshiri ¹
• Zahra Ahmadi ²

¹ Professor of International Relations, School of International Relations, Tehran, Iran

² PhD Candidate of International Relations, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The June 2025 Israeli military attacks on Iran, supported by the U.S., targeting Iranian territory and its nuclear facilities, challenge core principles of the UN Charter, particularly the prohibition on the use of force and respect for state sovereignty. This article provides a legal analysis of these actions under international law, examining the UN Charter, ICJ rulings, and non-proliferation treaties. The study finds that the attacks constitute an act of aggression, violating Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the jus cogens prohibition on the use of force, as they occurred without Security Council approval or a valid self-defense claim. Additionally, targeting safeguarded nuclear facilities violated the NPT and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, undermining the global non-proliferation framework. The study also affirms that Iran's defensive response was a legitimate exercise of self-defense. Ultimately, the attacks highlight a crisis in the UN collective security system, exacerbated by the Security Council's inaction.

Keywords

• Doctrinal Legal Analysis
• International Law
• Iran
• Israeli-U.S. Attacks
• International Criminal Responsibility

Main Subjects

• International Law
• International/ Regional Organizations
• Iran
• War
• Zionism