Tehran – In an exclusive interview, the Tehran Times collaborated with a prominent professor of international law at the Diplomatic School in Geneva, a former secretary of the UN Human Rights Commission, and a former expert on the UN International International Order (2012-18).
Tensions have risen in the region, particularly following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran during the 12-day war in June 2025, de Zayas provided a keen legal perspective on violations of international law, including the humanitarian impacts of invasions under the UN Charter and the unilateral enforcement measures.
He criticized the systemic failure of the UN Security Council, the misuse of the snapback mechanism under resolution 2231, and the accomplices of Western countries protecting Israel from accountability. De Zayas also explored strategic options in Iran’s changing multipolar world, highlighting legal and diplomatic channels to resist attacks while supporting sovereignty.
Below is the full interview:
From an international law perspective, how do you assess the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran during the 12-day war? These actions amount to attacks under the UN Charter, and what legal accountability mechanisms exist?
Yes, they correspond to the attacks under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and GA Resolutions 2625 and 3314. They constitute a “crime against peace” within the meaning of Article 6A of Nuremberg’s International Military Court Act (the London Agreement of 8 August 1945), and also an aggression crime under the Nuremberg judgment based on “crime of attack under the aggression under the international court’s aggression.” 2010. Principles According to the UBI IUS, IBI Remedium and the 2001 draft declaration on national responsibility of the International Law Commission, Israel must pay compensation, but of course Israel will not pay compensation.
The purpose and purpose of the United Nations, the principles and objectives of the United Nations organization are to prohibit war, prohibit warming, and prohibit propaganda of war. Until now, the United Nations has been well-known for ensuring world peace and has been too tolerant of the violations of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Human Rights Treaty by the United States and the Collective West. In June 2025, international law against US and Israeli attacks on Iran had zero justification. This constituted a serious violation of international peace and security within the meaning of Article 39 of the UN Charter.
The UN Charter gives the Security Council a responsibility to maintain safety and security. Why does this reflect the structural flaws of the UN system itself, when the Security Council has not stopped repeating attacks on Iran?
Article 27(3) of the UN Charter empowers five permanent members of the Security Council to “reject” or block the Security Council’s resolution and decisions. The three members of the Security Council, the United States, the UK and France, would have undoubtedly rejected a resolution condemning Israeli invasion. Other UN members, including Germany, will oppose Israeli approval. Not only Israel, but the United States, Britain, France and Germany are also rebelling against the fundamental tenets of the UN Charter. Although there are no structural flaws, it fails to recognize the complete lack of political will on the part of the “group west” and the severity of the situation due to the “global majority” in Africa and Asia. BRICS countries should pose questions to the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Courts.
Currently, Western powers are invoking a snapback mechanism under resolution 2231. From your legal expertise, is this move legal or is it another political manipulation of international law by the United States and its allies?
Illegal political manipulation of international law by the United States and its allies. Complicated by mainstream media in the US, UK, France, Germany and Israel.
You described sanctions as a form of collective punishment. How do you assess the humanitarian impact of us and European sanctions on ordinary Iranians? Can they be classified as crimes against humanity?
Under modern international law, the only legal and legal “sanctions” are adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Unilateral enforcement measures should not be confused with “sanctions” but constitute an illegal “use of force” that violates the United Nations charter art. 2 (4).
The problem with using the term “sanctions” to refer to UCMS is that the term “sanctions” is loaded, implying that the states imposing “sanctions” have legal or moral authority to do so. This is part of linguistic monitoring, which is the manipulation of legal concepts through the use of terms that have positive or negative connotations.
Collective punishment is specifically prohibited by international humanitarian and international human rights law. The imposition of the UCM involves a serious violation of international law that should be investigated by the International Law Commission as a “crime against humanity” under Article 7 of the Roman Law.
Can Iran realistically challenge US and European sanctions before the ICJ or other international courts? What obstacles do they actually exist?
yes. However, the ICJ and the International Criminal Court have records of serving the interests of the “Group West.” Nevertheless, it is even worth asking the UN General Assembly to hold a “conflict case” before the ICJ or to seek an advisory opinion on the illegality of UCMs in the US and Europe. Article 96, the United Nations Charter allows the GA to request such advisory opinions from the ICJ. 65 of the ICJ Law.
Under Article 15 of Rome, ICC prosecutors may begin an investigation into Motu Proprio and seek an arrest warrant for violation of Article 7 of the Roman Act. Unfortunately, there is little chance that prosecutors and prosecutors will dare to challenge the United States and Europe.
Israel has repeatedly violated international law through military operations against Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Why does the West protect Israel from accountability and what precedents does this create for international law?
“Group West” is a part of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and has been a conspiracy for Naqba’s 78 years against the Palestinians. Mainstream western media is shaking genocide and engaged in “apologies” for all Israeli human rights violations. They are against international law – and have left it so far. The only hope lies in the “global majority” who ultimately need to stand up to the UN Charter and take measures against the United States and Europe.
But no one seems brave to do so, and he doesn’t even ask the General Assembly to adopt a resolution seeking advisory opinions. Another possibility is to condemn Israel for serious violations of the ICCPR, CAT, ICERD, ICESCR and CRC, including the Human Rights Commission’s Interstate Complaints Procedure, the Torture Committee, the Racism Exclusion Committee, and the Committee on Child Rights.
How do poetry, music and art complement the legal efforts of international law organisations to promote solidarity with the Palestinians and support the principles of the UN Charter as a cultural response to Gaza’s genocide, particularly given the accomplices of Western leaders?
Hannah Allend’s appropriate analysis of “evil banality” has increased its importance in terms of the ongoing genocide of Palestinian Netanyahu and the indecent accomplices of Trump, Starme, Macron, Mertz, Ursula von Leyen and Kaja Karas. We should also look back at the meaning of Theodor Adorno’s statement that “after Auschwitz it is impossible to write a poem.”
Mutatis Mutandis will think that Gaza genocide can paralyze us and silence our sense of poetry, music and art. on the contrary! Today, many poets write in solidarity with the Palestinians of martyrs. Poetry and art preserve memories.
In addition, the name of Judaism also requires musical expressions of fear in genocide, which are performed in a greater sense under the name “collective West.” We need not only a Requiem for the Dead, but a Symphony of Resurrection, which is more appropriate. I’d love to see Daniel Barenboim implement it. As a law professor, I want to see lawyers from all continents in solidarity with the victims of Palestinians. American International Law, International Law Association, Geselschshaft, Germany. Yes, I still believe that in the “rule of law,” the UN Charter, and international morality, even if Trump, Netanyahu, Preferential, Macron and Meltz is not clearly the case.
European countries often argue that they defend human rights and multilateralism, but they support sanctions and military pressure on Iran. How do you explain this contradiction in European foreign policy?
The contradiction is “new normal.” The double standard is “today’s order.” There is no rationality in US and European policies. Only Animus Dominanti. This is an overabundance of policies to achieve and maintain full spectrum advantages. Despite the theoretical equality of sovereign states, there is no explanation for US and European actions, but it is a clear and current intent to direct the terms to others.
The rules are “may be correct” and “the end justifies the means” (Machiavelli, Prince). However, among prominent scholars in the US, UK, France and Germany, there are prominent voices who challenge mainstream narratives and conclude that the US and the EU are morally bankrupt. To call “human rights” to justify unilateral coercive action is a form of blasphemy and sacrifice. But it’s a game being played.
Do you think Washington is really interested in reviving nuclear talks with Iran, or is the nuclear issue being used primarily as a political excuse for Iran’s broader containment?
The United States is only interested in maintaining the unipolar world and US hegemony. He has no interest in engaging in sincere negotiations with Iran. The United States does not want to comply with Article 2 (3) of the UN Charter and resolve the differences through peaceful means. The US just wants to bully and threaten.
Some people argue that the international system has changed to multipolarity, with countries like China, Russia and regional blocs playing a bigger role. How will this changing landscape affect Iran’s position in global politics?
Shanghai cooperative organisation BRICS, the Belt and Road Initiative, is part of a multipolar development that could ultimately strengthen the doctrine of the UN Charter and the sovereignty of all states on Earth. However, he dies violently in the fantasy of the Unipola world. And in the process, NATO can destroy the entire planet before accepting that they can live together in peace in accordance with the UN Charter. NATO is a criminal organization under Articles 9 and 10 of the International Criminal Court, subject to the 1946 judgment. Applying the same standards used against Nazi organizations in 1945, NATO is accused of being a criminal organization, for its aggressive actions, crimes and crimes against humanity since 1991.
What steps can Iran take to resist illegal sanctions and attacks while resistant to illegal sanctions and aggression, while avoiding isolation?
Non-enhancement treaties are not international law of IUS cogen or distrust. It is just a treaty that the state may or may not want to comply with. For example, Israel is not sticking to the NPT.
Follow the art. X of the NPT Any Party is particularly pronounced by other countries where its sovereignty is severely violated by other countries and is subject to unrelenting threats from other countries (US and Israel) that are inconsistent with Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. North Korea summoned Article X of the NPT to free itself from the abusive overreach by the IAEA. Alas, as I explain in my book “The Human Rights Industry,” many UN and other international organizations have been hijacked, serving primarily the “Group West” and acting selectively and discriminatoryly. Hijacked organizations include the IAEA, ICC, OPCW and the High Commissioner’s Human Rights Office.