TABNAK –Nader Entessar, Professor Emeritus of Political Science from university of South Alabama says that Israel's attack on Iran and breaching Iran's airspace and territory for offensive attacks deep inside Iran is the classic example of aggression under the UN Charter.
“I do not think the tit-for-tat attacks of this nature will end unless Iran can establish a more effective deterrent strategy against Israel,” Entessar told TABNAK News Agency.
Following is the full text of interview with Professor Entessar:
Q: Israel violated Iran's territorial integrity in attacks. Various countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, have considered this attack a clear violation of Iran's sovereignty. Accordingly, can this attack be considered an example of aggression under the UN Charter?
A: Yes, definitely. Israel's attack on Iran and breaching Iran's airspace and territory for offensive attacks deep inside Iran is the classic example of aggression under the UN Charter.
Q: According to Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran will have the right to self-defense. In this regard, what actions can Iran take in the UN or individually?
A: Iran can take several diplomatic measures, as it has already started to do. It can also ramp up its recent diplomatic activities in the region and the broader Middle East to emphasize Israel's danger not only to Iran but to the maintenance of peace and security in the region. However, there are limits under the UN as it is currently structured. As we have witnessed, the UN has been impotent in dealing with Israel's onslaught in Gaza and Lebanon.
Q: According to the news, some countries have participated in this Israeli aggression. In this regard, what actions can Iran take under the UN Charter?
A: The reports indicate that Israeli planes used Jordan's airspace in their nearly 2000 km journey to violate Iran's sovereignty. It is unclear if Jordan was aware of Israel's violation of its airspace or not. There are probably other countries whose airspaces were violated too by Israel. However, if it is determined that other countries aided and abetted the Israeli attack on Iran, Iran can view them as legitimate targets of self-defense under the UN Charter.
Q: In your opinion, the war between Iran and Israel end at this stage?
A: It is hard to answer this question in the heat of the moment. However, I do not think the tit-for-tat attacks of this nature will end unless Iran can establish a more effective deterrent strategy against Israel. Deterrence works only when the target country is dissuaded from doing what it does.
