Statement on the Use of Force Against Iran, Civilian Harm, and the Undermining of Diplomatic Efforts
The World Embassy Desk (WED) condemns in the strongest possible terms the military attack carried out by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Reports indicate significant civilian casualties, including schoolchildren, the full extent of which remains to be independently verified. The killing of children in the course of an unlawful military operation marks not only a legal breach of the highest order, but a moral failure that shocks the conscience of the international community.
The sequence of events raises serious and legitimate questions as to whether negotiations were conducted in good faith. Only yesterday, it was communicated in person to the President of the United States, on behalf of Oman, that a diplomatic deal between the parties was within reach. Oman had invested considerable diplomatic capital and credibility in facilitating a peaceful resolution of the dispute. The decision to proceed with a military strike under such circumstances constitutes a direct assault on diplomacy itself and a profound disregard for the constructive efforts of Oman.
By launching this attack despite being informed that a negotiated solution was imminent, the United States has shown not only disregard toward its adversaries, but also toward its own allies. Allies such as Oman, and other regional partners, were effectively sidelined and placed in a position of political and security vulnerability. The decision to proceed militarily, notwithstanding ongoing mediation efforts, further strains confidence in the reliability of the United States as a negotiating partner. Public statements made by the United States today raise serious concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of the information presented to the international community and to the American public in justification of the use of force.
The WED also takes note of the retaliation carried out by Iran against United States military bases in neighboring countries. The neighboring host states have expressed their displeasure and concern, particularly where their sovereignty may have been implicated. The WED understands this dissatisfaction. However, under international law, the legal assessment must focus on the origin of the unlawful use of force.
Those host states had clearly communicated that they would not support a war initiated by the United States against Iran. Despite this, the United States utilized military assets stationed on their territory to prepare, coordinate, and execute the attack. In these circumstances, retaliatory action directed specifically at United States military installations cannot automatically be characterized as a violation of the sovereignty of the host states. It cannot be the case that a state which stations military bases abroad may invoke the sovereignty of the host state as a shield against retaliation, while simultaneously using those same bases as platforms for aggression. Any retaliatory measures must, however, remain consistent with the principles of proportionality and distinction under international humanitarian law.
In fact, it is the United States that has placed the sovereignty and security of those neighboring countries at risk by using their territory against their expressed political will. As an ally, the United States was obliged to respect the limits drawn by those host nations. Instead, it treated their territory as an extension of its own military ambitions, thereby endangering the safety of their populations and exposing them to retaliatory risks. This conduct demonstrates a troubling disregard for the legitimate security interests of the Gulf States and other neighboring countries of Iran.
The gravity of these actions is compounded by the fact that the United States is one of the most prominent permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The credibility of the Security Council is inevitably strained when one of its permanent members is perceived to act in tension with the principles the Council is mandated to uphold. Respect for international law cannot be selective, nor can it depend on geopolitical convenience.
The World Embassy Desk calls upon the international community to speak collectively and unequivocally against this act of aggression and this serious breach of international law. Silence in the face of such conduct risks normalizing the erosion of the prohibition on the use of force.
The WED further calls upon the Gulf States to demand accountability from the United States for the use of their territory in the execution of this unlawful attack. Sovereign states must insist that their soil not be used as a staging ground for actions that endanger their own national security and regional stability.
Regional states may wish to reassess whether existing security arrangements adequately safeguard their sovereignty, long-term stability, and the safety of their populations.
The WED reiterates its firm commitment to diplomacy, the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty, and the strict observance of international law.