Israel claims preemptive self-defense in the future. This is what President Benjamin Netanyahu stated to an Associated Press journalist as he headed for a meeting with his ministers. He implied Israel has the right to attack Iran even under a ceasefire agreement and whenever he deems necessary.
In answer to this statement, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Amir Sa'eed Iravani has just called on the Security Council to reject the United States and Israel's claim on their "preemptive self-defense" for a possible future aggression against Iran. ¨An unprovoked attack on Iran is not preemptive self-defense. Bombing a foreign country on a cultural prejudiced assumption that this country might attack Israel is simply a blatant and egregious criminal act that has a high cost in human lives and material damage to the attacked country's infrastructure¨.
The U.S. had cited Article 51 of the U.N. Charter to justify its 21 June strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as an act of self-defense. Iran denounced this explanation as a “blatant distortion” of international law and the Charter, stating that the attack violated its sovereignty and the principles governing the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
“Iran’s nuclear sites are under full I.A.E.A. safeguards and have been repeatedly confirmed as peaceful,” the letter said.
The document cited General Assembly Resolution 3314 and International Court of Justice rulings—including the 1986 Nicaragua and 2003 Oil Platforms cases—to argue that preemptive force cannot constitute lawful self-defense.
Iran also dismissed allegations of an imminent nuclear threat as “unfounded,” pointing to recent I.A.E.A. reports and the U.S. intelligence assessments that showed no evidence of weapons development.
The U.N. Security Council Resolution 487 (1981) and I.A.E.A. General Conference Resolutions GC(XXIX)/RES/444 and GC(XXXIV)/RES/533 were referenced to reinforce that attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities are prohibited under international law.
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| Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Sa'eed Iravani. |
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