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`Refrain from taking military action against Iran'

Staff Reporter

Kochi: The legal and human rights groups over the world have urged the Bush Administration and Congress to refrain from taking military action against Iran.

In an open letter to President George W. Bush and members of Congress, the legal and human rights groups including the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and Indian Association of Lawyers said that any military action would be illegal as the United States was bound under the United Nations Charter to settle international disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any State or to act in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations.

While Article 51 of the Charter recognised the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence, such rights existed only if an armed attack occurred and was allowed only until the Security Council could take measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.

So, any military action against Iran in the absence of a military strike by Iran would be a war of aggression outlawed under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

The U.S. and all countries of the world, which have ratified the UN Charter, are required to bide by their obligations under it.

The letter pointed out that the U.S. could not demand that other countries obey the terms of the UN Charter while it is violating those very provisions with impunity.

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