Iran -
A few thoughts as the conflict continues
An earlier article looked at the action by the USA against Iran - 28 February 2026. This noted that the action, taken by the President of the USA (Donald J Trump), was not authorised in advance by either the United States Congress or the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Furthermore, it appears that the USA and Israel acted without either prior consultation with or notification to the governments of friendly nations such as the UK.
Several weeks later, more than 100 experts on international law have signed an open letter expressing “profound concern” about what they see as serious violations of international law by the US, Israel and Iran in the Middle East war. They say the US-Israeli decision to attack on Iran was a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force outside of self-defence or when authorised by the UN Security Council -for the actual letter see Just Security 2 April 2026 and for an article see BBC News 3 April 2025.
The experts' letter also highlights the attack on a primary school in the Iranian town of Minab on the war's first day. Amnesty International has called for accountability for the attack (article HERE). According to the Iranian authorities, 168 people were killed in the attack.
On 3 March, the judiciary’s Mizan News Agency announced that at least 110 school children were among the dead, comprising 66 boys and 54 girls, as well as 26 teachers and four parents. On 7 March, the authorities published a collage containing the images of 119 children killed. Due to the ongoing internet blackout and no access to the country to inspect the site and interview affected people, Amnesty has been unable to independently corroborate the number of people killed.
Al Jazeera has published a summary updating the situation as at 3 April 2026.
The American and Israeli action has fractured relationships between the USA and many allies including the United Kingdom where the Labour government resisted strident calls for military action “shoulder to shoulder” with the USA. Such calls came from Kemi Badenoch (Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition) and Nigel Farage (Leader of Reform UK). The action taken by the UK has been cautious and includes granting the USA the use of certain bases such as RAF Fairford.
In a speech delivered at Manchester University, the UK Attorney General (Lord Hermer KC) offered a defence of the UK’s position - Harry Street Lecture 24 March 2026.
International law is - or should be - of major importance to States and the Attorney General offered a number of reasons why States, and the UK in particular, should strive to abide by what he called the international rules-based order.
The American and Israeli action will leave serious issues which will have to be addressed. Those include the authority of the UN Security Council and, for Europe, what will the future form of NATO be? One certainty is that the status quo ante cannot simply return. The model is broken. How will it be repaired or replaced?
Doubtless more to follow …..
3 April 2026
Other material
Craig Murray 21 March 2026 - Seeing Trump clearly