Iran
390 Articles

Proportionality and 150 Iranian Lives: Do They “Count”?
General (ret.) Ken Watkin explains why assessing civilian casualties in the jus ad bellum proportionality analysis is the right approach.

Now is the Time to Repeal the 2002 AUMF
Repealing the 2002 AUMF would take an unnecessary force authorization off the books, ensure it can’t be improperly invoked to drag the U.S. into unauthorized war, and reassert…

Self-Defense in International Law: What Level of Evidence?
With the question of whether Iran's actions justify the use of force, the issue of evidence is once again at the forefront of international debate. So, how much evidence does a…

Iran’s Shifting Views on Self-Defense and ‘Intraterritorial’ Force
Iran’s justification for shooting down a US drone suggests a subtle shift in its understanding of international law.

Cyberattack Attribution and the Virtues of Decentralization
In the midst of rising tensions between the United States and Iran over tanker attacks and Iran’s downing of a U.S. drone, reports emerged that U.S. Cyber Command had launched…

Unpacking the State Dept Acknowledgment that 2001 and 2002 AUMFs Don’t Authorize War Against Iran
An analysis of State Dept's major concession, whether the one stated exception is a loophole for military action, and what Congress should now do.
Anticipating the President’s Way Around the War Powers Resolution on Iran: Lessons of the 1980s Tanker Wars
Former senior State Department lawyer, Todd Buchwald, who worked on war powers issues during the 1980s Tanker Wars involving U.S. military actions against Iran, explains how the…
The Missing Piece in US-Iran Drone Dispute: Navigational Freedoms and the Strait of Hormuz
"Even if the drone flew only across 'international airspace,' significant legal questions arise as to whether its activities violated the rules for transit and what legal recourse…

Top Expert Backgrounder: Aborted U.S. Strike, Cyber Operation Against Iran and International Law
"It is difficult to definitely conclude that the proposed U.S. kinetic strikes would have been valid exercises of self-defense."

Asking the Right Question on Iran, Al-Qaeda and the AUMF
The President and senior members of his administration are trying to skew a critical public debate by framing it inaccurately. The stakes—including a potential new war in the…

The State of Play with US-Iran and How We Got Here: Q&A with Laura Rozen
We asked Just Security’s Laura Rozen for her assessment of the current tension between the United States and Iran. Two key questions follow.

What’s In the New Draft National Defense Authorization Act
"The baseline draft bill, which is also called the chairman’s mark, touches on key issues ranging from the militarization of the southern border to deterring Russia and reemphasizing…