A Directing Staff of the National Institute for Security Studies and Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Prof. Mukhtar Imam has said that the UN now offers only rhetoric, and flags US strikes on Iran as a breach of international laws.
Prof. Imam said this while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday.
“The United Nations being what it is, has, in recent times not offered anything beyond just rhetoric. Often, all we hear from the UN are condemnations and statements regarding certain actions or inactions of states, which essentially beats the very reason why the UN was established in the first place”, he stated.
Adding, he said: “Of course, we must understand its powers and enforcement capabilities are limited. However, it has within its orbit instruments to ensure that all warring parties are brought back to the negotiation table, invoking UN resolutions and ensuring the Security Council meets immediately to nip the situation in the bud.”
Condemning the recent US-Israel strikes on Iran, Prof. Imam said:
“As for the strikes by the U.S., it is obviously a flagrant disregard and disabuse of international law, especially at a time when negotiations were ongoing. We were seeing a breakthrough at the highest level, given comments from Geneva and the Omani Foreign Minister. However, the United States and its ally Israel decided to take this action because this, for Trump, is the ‘endgame.’ The idea of attacking Iran and ensuring a regime change—which might not necessarily happen, as it didn’t in Iraq, Sudan, or Libya—is what he has always wanted. This action has plunged the entire Middle East region into a conflict where we do not know what the end will look like.”
Speaking further on the US-Israel strikes on Iran, the professor noted that Trump’s military actions defy his promises, while Iran’s strikes remain legally justified.
“Trump made promises to end wars and discontinue regime change. However, we’re seeing the contrary—the man is even bypassing the powers of Congress to wage war. Regarding Iran’s actions, they are ensuring they strike those allied with the U.S. In international relations, if you open your country for another to set up a base, you are sending a message that you are an ally. Iran sees no other way to get to a country 7,000 miles away across the Atlantic than attacking bases in the Gulf States. As far as the legality is concerned, this is within the rules of engagement of the Vienna Convention and the Basel Treaty; what Iran has done doesn’t negate known international law”, he explained.
Furthermore, Prof. Mukhtar Imam said the crisis surpasses Iran’s nuclear programme, and he also described the US-Israel strikes and excuse for intervention.
“This goes beyond nuclear capability. There was a breakthrough in diplomatic channels, yet Trump and Israel chose to strike now. Iran has said it doesn’t intend to build nuclear armaments, and no IAEA report has proven otherwise. If Trump really had the intention of diplomatic conversation, he would have allowed it to continue. This is just a pretext to go into Iran. Now, for the first time in a decade, we are hearing France say they will increase nuclear warheads—a new arms race is perhaps beginning”, he warned.
Favour Odima
