1. Bolton’s Stated Predicate for War With Iran Doesn’t Work
- Author:
- Oona A. Hathaway
- Publication Date:
- 05-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Legal Challenges, Yale Law School
- Abstract:
- The President’s National Security Advisor John Bolton has long been beating the drums of war with Iran. Those drums are growing louder. In the last month, Bolton has repeatedly threatened that Iran’s support for its “proxies” could bring “a very strong response”—even military force. By threatening military action against Iran in retaliation for the acts of groups it supports, Bolton is trying to frame a war on Iran as a justified—even righteous—act of self-defense even if he cannot prove that Iran itself has participated in any attacks. Such a war would, however, be illegal.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Military Strategy, Law, and Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, North America, and United States of America