The article examines the complexity surrounding the U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear assets, focusing on the dual questions of wisdom and legitimacy. While the operation aimed to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions, intelligence suggests only a temporary setback rather than a lasting victory. President Trump's statements post-strike reveal a tension between the language of power and the need for legal legitimacy. The UN Security Council, which could have provided that legitimacy, criticized the intervention, adding to the ambiguity regarding its justification and potential consequences for regional stability.
Historians will judge U.S. strikes on Iran by examining if the intervention was wise and whether it was legitimate, two interlinked questions that remain unresolved.
Despite Trump's claims that the bombing destroyed Iranian nuclear capabilities, reports suggest that the strikes only postponed the program's progress by months, posing a strategic risk.
Trump's conflicting statements highlight the duality of power and legitimacy in international affairs, as he oscillated between advocating for regime change and asserting legal justification.
The UN Security Council, the sole entity able to legitimize military actions, did not support the operation, with its Secretary General labeling it a dangerous move.
#us-foreign-policy #iran-nuclear-program #military-intervention #trump-administration #international-law
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