The US-Israeli attacks against Iran and threats to its energy infrastructure underscore how the established norms of initiating and escalating international conflicts have been profoundly disrupted.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to unleash severe military action, including the destruction of Iranian energy facilities, if Iran retaliates against Qatari sites. The rhetoric has raised concerns that the ongoing war may strain the global rules-based order.
Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), emphasized that attacking civilian energy sites without a justified military objective constitutes a crime of aggression under international law, comparing it to similar violations seen in Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Moreno Ocampo warned that the shift from a rules-based international system to unilateral actions driven by national leaders poses a serious threat to global stability.
In this evolving scenario, the White House dismissed Moreno Ocampo's claims as unfounded, asserting that Trump is acting decisively against a violent regime while maintaining that US attacks target legitimate threats to national security.
The implications of the US’s actions are concerning, with rights groups highlighting the dire impact on civilians, particularly if Iranian energy infrastructures are attacked, given the ongoing struggles with power shortages in Iran.
As the conflict unfolds, both US and Iranian officials have signaled readiness for escalating tactics, raising fears of broader regional instability and further violations of international humanitarian law.
