Assessing the US Article 51 Letter for the Attack on Iran

Assessing the US Article 51 Letter for the Attack on Iran

In a letter to the UN Security Council dated June 27, 2025, the United States presented its international legal justification for its June 22nd strikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—the first such U.S. military strikes on Iranian territory. Having helped draft such letters on the use of force to the Security Council, I find the explanation inadequate. The pertinent international law argument advanced by the Uni…