Collection: Iran
25 Articles
When Civilian Infrastructure Becomes a Lawful Target
Civilian infrastructure is not targetable merely because it is economically significant or politically useful to strike, but only when it offers a definite military advantage.
Clausewitz on Operation Epic Fury
Applying Clausewitz’s principles to Operation Epic Fury reveals the war’s strategic design–architecture linking military action to political purpose–was deficient from…
Taking a Toll
How allowing Iran to charge for transit in the Strait of Hormuz could undermine U.S. strategy in the Pacific and beyond
Collection: Iran, Israel and the United States at War (2025-2026 Operations)
Experts analyze the US-Israel Iran military conflicts - covering nuclear diplomacy; strategic, security, and regional implications; and domestic and international law.
Five “Blockades” and One Legal Problem: Naval Enforcement in the U.S.–Iran Conflict
Former U.S. Navy Commander, JAGC Mark Nevitt clarifies the 5 "blockades" in the U.S.-Iran conflict and the different legal issues and operational risks at stake.
The International Legal Consequences and Imprudence of U.S. Assistance to Kurdish Rebels in Iran
U.S. policies of funding rebel groups to achieve shared strategic objectives while turning a blind eye to ideology and international law has proven to be myopic time and again
Self-Preservation and the Erosion of International Law
It is the violation of fundamental principles of international law that ultimately constitutes an existential threat to all members of the international community.
The Court Gutted Congress’s War Power. It’s Time to Give It Back.
A 1983 Supreme Court ruling eviscerated the law allowing Congress to end war. The Iran strikes make that a five-alarm emergency.
Fighting an Illegal War and Fighting a War Illegally: the Link between Regime Change Operations and International Humanitarian Law Violations
The relationship between regime change and IHL is of inherent tension, incentivizing battlefields where the law is viewed as an obstacle rather than an essential constraint.
An Unserious Justification for an Unnecessary War: Assessing the U.S. “Article 51” Letter to U.N. on Iran War
Former US State Department attorney writes that the United States' "Article 51" letter to the UN Security Council fails to identify legal basis for Iran attack.
Iranian Attacks on the Amazon Data Centers: A Legal Analysis
Do data centers qualify as lawful military objectives? If so, under what circumstances are they subject to attack? And what precautions must be taken before targeting them?
The Illegality of Israel’s Military Campaign in Lebanon
Israel and the United States must end their ongoing war of aggression against Iran, and Israel must end its unnecessary military campaign in Lebanon.