8 No. 76 JUSTICE n June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion” against the Iranian regime to neutralize the imminent existential threat emanating from the regime’s nuclear weapons program, as well as the grave strategic threat from its ballistic missile arsenal and regional proxies. Alongside public and behind-the-scenes diplomatic support for doing the world’s “dirty work,” Israel’s operations sparked debate regarding their legality. As always, when it comes to assessing Israeli military actions, a chorus of commentators is quick to label the conduct as unlawful. These assessments are often derived from a selective reading of the facts on the ground and a confusion between international law and normative or political aspirations. They resonate particularly strongly within the ranks of the United Nations, known for its intrinsic reluctance to recognize the sometimes necessary and lawful use of military force, especially when it comes to Israel. As Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, it is my duty to challenge the simmering misconceptions and present a grounded perspective on the international legal implications of Israel’s recent actions in Iran, rooted in the undeniable security realities of the Middle East. Operation “Rising Lion” marked a new phase of an ongoing armed conflict between Israel and the Iranian regime. For years, Iran has consistently carried out hostilities against Israel, both directly in covert or overt acts of aggression, and indirectly through its substantial involvement in attacks by affiliated terrorist armed groups. Since the October 7 massacre, Iran has directly attacked Israel twice (in April and October 2024) and the terrorist organizations Iran guided, funded, and armed – including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and others – constantly attack Israel on different fronts with Iran’s aid. To understand the gravity of the situation that unfolded in June 2025, we must consider recent developments in their full context. While this conflict has been ongoing for some time, this new stage was unique due to recent alarming developments in Iran’s nuclear weapon program and acceleration of its ballistic missile capabilities. The last window of opportunity to address this existential threat was closing, and Israel was compelled to address it as a last resort at the eleventh hour. For many years, Iran has publicly declared its intent to eliminate the State of Israel, but these were not merely statements. The Iranian regime focused on manufacturing tens of thousands of missiles and UAVs, and advancing plans for a combined ground offensive against Israel on multiple fronts simultaneously, whereby terrorist groups would create a “ring of fire” around Israel. Materials collected during the war in Gaza document in detail how the Iranian regime plans to re-arm Hamas and Hezbollah, including after the October 7 massacre. The “crown jewel” of this project was Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which, based on credible intelligence, was now on the verge of becoming a tangible reality. Israel was not alone in its assessment of nuclear-armed Iran: on June 12, 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared Iran to be in breach of its nonproliferation obligations and admitted that it “was not able to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material ... to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” Israeli intelligence agencies confirmed the suspicions lingering in the international community for years: Iran not only produced highly enriched uranium rapidly, but also significantly accelerated its clandestine efforts to produce nuclear weapons in recent months. This effort included speeding up the production of different components required to produce such a weapon and efforts to disperse those components to different sites, including underground facilities, throughout Iran. Any levelheaded evaluation of the legality of the use of force under international law must consider Iran’s breach of its non-proliferation obligations, its accelerated efforts to develop nuclear weapons, and its public declaration to eliminate the State of Israel. Many in the International Law Is Not a Suicide Pact: The International Legal Framework of Operation “Rising Lion” Ambassador Daniel Meron O
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