Internatonal Consensus: Israeli Aggression Against Iran “Illegal” Under International Law! (18.6.2025)

Blogger’s Note: As per usual I have corrected the ridiculous Chinese media use of infantile “American English” (a US misuse of my language of British “English”) – and adjusted the headline for reasons of sanity and to give these two articles the gravitas they deserve. The US-backed Zionist entity murdering tens of thousands of innocent people is a very serious matter that should NOT be treated as if it were a game at the Superbowl. Once all these processing issues are squared away – we may advance to the very serious matter at hand. Opposing Zionism is not the same as supporting Islamic militancy. In reality – and from a Marxist-Leninist viewpoint – both of these religious (inverted) deviations should be eradicated as forms of anti-working class extremism. The encouragement of religion is not the answer if the human-race is to be progressed. Indeed, religion fuels the far-right and prevents humanity from moving forward into a more enlightened secularism. Iran, for all its pluckiness, still hangs young men for being gay and cannot prevail against the military might of the US, its allies or proxies. Expect Israel to absorb all of Iran’s fury – and for the US to apply all its forces in the end to finish it off. I see no good ending to any of this. Trump had all this planned long before coming to power for the second time. Although Iran is a left-leaning State – it is Islamic first – and opposed to secularism. Therefore, it is not strictly speaking a “Socialist” State. Iran is not only opposed to Zionism, it is opposed to Israel and to Jews. Online, there is a disturbing admiration for Adolf Hitler written in the Persian and Arab languages (although much of this originates “outside” of Iran – with the authors being against the Iranian State). This stems from Hitler having good relations with the Mufti of Palestine and allowing special SS Units for Persians and Arabs in the Nazi German Army. Antisemitism is rife throughout the Middle East. Iran is probably more like a religious “National Socialist” State – just as Israel is. Don’t forget, as Iran is sanctioned to high heaven – it lacks any great or ongoing resources or even allies (China stopped only supporting “Internationalist” Workers’ Movements in 1976 – with the death of Mao Zedong – as this type of selfless politics jeopardises trade). Once Iran’s limited supplies run out – the US will destroy it – and a Zionist-friendly Al Qaeda group will take up residence in Tehran. Let’s hope my assessment is wrong. ACW (18.6.2025)

China Daily 17.6.2025

Israel’s “preemptive” strikes on Iran violate key principles of international law, and the deliberate targeting of nuclear scientists covered by humanitarian law could amount to unlawful killing, experts said.

They added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reasons for striking Iran were aimed at relieving growing domestic and international pressure over his prolonged military campaign and aid blockade in Gaza, rather than his country’s self-defense.

Ahmad Ghouri, an associate professor at the School of Law, Politics and Sociology at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, told China Daily that Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iran breached Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.

The relevant charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN.

Israel launched a “preemptive strike” on Iran on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a statement.

“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and a significant threat to the wider world,” the IDF said in a statement.

The Chief Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Hossein Salami and Gholam-Ali Rashid, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, were killed in Friday’s airstrikes.

The casualties also included two Iranian nuclear scientists, Xinhua News Agency reported.

“From this perspective, Israel’s military actions — including attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and the targeted killing of nuclear scientists — constitute an unlawful use of force,” said Ghouri, who is also senior counsel at Albertson Solicitors in London.

‘Perceived threats’

“Furthermore, Article 51 of the UN Charter permits self-defense only in response to an actual armed attack. It does not support the use of force based solely on perceived or potential threats.

“Therefore, Israel’s justification of anticipatory self-defense does not meet the legal threshold required under Article 51,” he added.

Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, nothing shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a UN member, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.

Ghouri said that although the Caroline doctrine allows anticipatory self-defense when the threat is instant, overwhelming, and leaves no choice of means or moment for deliberation, Israel’s actions do not satisfy the stringent criteria.

The threat from Iran was not immediate, and diplomatic avenues had not been exhausted, he said.

Ghouri said the targeting of nuclear scientists was also illegal, as such individuals are civilians under international humanitarian law unless they directly participate in hostilities. Their deliberate targeting, he said, could thus amount to “unlawful killing”.

Two major events — the sixth round of nuclear negotiations supposedly scheduled to take place in Oman on the weekend, and a UN conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians set from Tuesday to Friday — were postponed following the strikes.

Abdalfatah Asqool, a former international law lecturer at the University of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, said “no single instrument” in international law justifies Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Asqool told China Daily it was “ridiculous and meaningless to use the self-defense justification for these attacks” and that the countries rushing to defend Israel and its actions are “partners in violating the obvious basic rules of international law”.

He said this was another example of the “double standards” adopted by several countries.

“I think one of Netanyahu’s reasons to attack Iran is to escape the pressure on him because of the humanitarian crisis he caused in the Gaza Strip. And our families are still starving, so we need to keep reminding the world about them,” he added.

chinadaily.com.cn 17.6.2025

Twenty-one Arab and Muslim countries issued a joint statement on June 16, condemning Israel’s airstrikes on Iran and calling for de-escalation, nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law.

The Egyptian-initiated statement followed contacts between Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and his counterparts from different countries, according to Egypt’s Middle East News Agency.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Turkiye, Chad, Algeria, the Comoros, the UAE, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, and Mauritania, emphasized the need to stop Israel’s hostilities against Iran amid growing regional tensions.

They also called for the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the principles of good neighborliness, urging all parties to settle their disputes by peaceful means.

The ministers underscored the importance of de-escalation efforts that would lead to a cease-fire and a comprehensive truce, warning about the consequences of rapidly escalating tensions in the region and urged the importance of creating a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

The statement also called on all countries in the region to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which entered into force in 1970, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, and promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The ministers also rejected and denounced Israel’s attacks against Iran on June 13 and any moves that violate international law, as well as the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. They emphasized the importance of respecting the freedom of navigation in international waterways and relevant rules of international law.

The joint statement also warned against targeting nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards, and urged all those concerned to return to the table of negotiations as soon as possible.

The ministers also stressed that the ongoing crisis cannot be resolved by military means.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei urged the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to condemn Israel’s aggression.

“This is a blatant aggression. Full stop. The world needs your office to condemn it ‘unequivocally’ – no ambiguity, no justification, no letting the aggressor hide behind ‘twisted concepts’,” said Baqaei in a post on X.

“Your mandate demands it,” he added.