Military Escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran Causes Alert on the International Stage

On February 28, 2026, in a joint operation, the United States and Israel launched a military offensive against strategic targets in Iran. According to US President Donald J. Trump, the operation aims to eliminate imminent dangers posed by the Iranian regime. The president emphasizes that it has always been the political position of the United States, and especially of his administration, that Iran should never have nuclear weapons. Throughout the president's official speech, broadcast on his social network Truth Social on the same day, he stated that the offensive launched in partnership with Israel is a response to Iran's growing nuclear ambitions. According to Trump, “we’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.” In addition, he reinforced that the offensive should be understood by the Iranian people as their opportunity to take the government for themselves. According to the president, this “will probably be your only chance for generations.”

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “Operation Lion's Roar” aims to eliminate the threat posed by Iran's Ayatollah regime. Netanyahu claims that the regime has implemented a vast network of terror around the world, instilling fear among the population — the Prime Minister points to the violent repression committed by the Tehran regime against its citizens as proof — and contributing to the continuation of terrorist groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, and other territories in the region. The attack targeted facilities associated with the Revolutionary Guard, as well as those involved in the nuclear program. Regime change, according to Netanyahu, would not be “the goal, but it could certainly be the outcome”.

The Iranian response came shortly thereafter, with drone and missile attacks against Israeli territory and other military installations associated with the United States in the Middle East. The counterattack targeted countries that are historical allies of the United States in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which led to a significant escalation of the conflict.

At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened on the day of the first attacks, Iranian representative Amir Saeid Iravani characterized the military actions against his country as “a war against the UN Charter” and a violation of the principles of international law and the legal framework underlying the formation of the United Nations (UN) system of global governance. In addition, Iravani affirms that Iran is willing to respect the sovereignty of its neighbors in the Middle East, further emphasizing the state's right to self-defense. At the time, the representative also pointed to the attacks as a “war crime and a crime against humanity.”

Last Monday (March 9, 2026), after the election of the new Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the country's former supreme leader who has considerable support from the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian government ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire while US and Israeli military offensives continue. In addition, Iranian diplomat Esmail Baghaei stated that the United States' interest in the attacks was to obtain and control Iranian oil, and also pointed out that the consolidation of the current conflict situation had a direct influence from some European countries, blaming countries such as France for enabling conditions that facilitated the efforts of the US and Israel.

In a joint statement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced their dissatisfaction with Iran's reaction to the Israeli and US offensive, which targeted enemy military bases, but also other Western allies, such as Dubai. The representatives announced possible defensive military support aimed at destroying Iran's response capabilities. Despite the support of these representatives, other national leaders, such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchéz, have emphasized that the offensive is “reckless and illegal.” Sanchéz denied the United States permission to use military bases on its territory in the offensive against Iran.

In addition, countries allied with the Iranian government also spoke out about the attacks. Representatives of both the Chinese and Russian governments condemned the offensives promoted by the United States and Israel, characterizing them as violations of international law. In this scenario, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that Russia is assisting the country “in several directions,” including strategic cooperation and possible intelligence sharing between the two countries. China, in turn, offered a more pragmatic and diplomatic approach, affirming its support for Iran in protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Araghchi emphasized the partnership between the two countries, ensuring that he will do the “utmost” to protect Chinese citizens present in Iranian territory.

At the same time, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, condemned the offensive against Iran, as well as Iranian retaliation against Gulf countries. Guterres stated that the military escalation jeopardizes regional and international peace and reiterates that members of the Organization have obligations to respect international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

Ben Saul, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of human rights and “counter-terrorism,” reaffirms that Western offensives are not acts of self-defense and have not been authorized by the United Nations Security Council. Thus, in light of the principles set forth in the United Nations Charter, the fundamental legal framework for the organization, and international law, the United States’ and Israel’s use of force can be considered illegal.