International law proscribes the use of force except in self-defence – but what constitutes self-defence?
United States President Donald Trump is considering joining Israel in what it claims are its efforts to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, based on its stated belief that Iran is “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon.
Israel argues that it has carried out attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear sites over the past week in anticipation of an Iranian nuclear attack. But is this a valid justification?
The United Nations Charter, which is the founding document for states’ rights since World War II, outlaws aggressive war, allowing military action only as self-defence.
Only the UN Security Council is empowered to decide if military action is justified, once countries have tried and failed to resolve their differences peacefully.
