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By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University After the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear facilities on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said its objective was a “stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”.US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this justification, saying: The president … Continue reading “Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent”
By Lester Munson, Non-Resident Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney US President Donald Trump’s strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which he foreshadowed on and off for the past few days, has revealed a surprisingly broad middle ground in US politics, even as it has provoked controversy in the international community. Almost … Continue reading “Trump’s decision to bomb Iran exposes fissures in US politics”
By Sanjoy Paul, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney The Iranian parliament has approved the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could further escalate the Israel/Iran war.The strait lies between Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbours and is used … Continue reading “closing vital oil and gas route would disrupt global supplies. How will Australia be affected?”
By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the United States attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth.Albanese told their joint news conference: “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to … Continue reading “Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly”
By Basil Germond, Professor of International Security, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University Faced with the prospect of continuing Israeli airstrikes and further American involvement, Iran’s parliament has reportedly approved plans to close the strait of Hormuz.This is potentially a very dangerous moment. The strait of Hormuz is an important shipping lane through … Continue reading “Iran is considering closing the strait of Hormuz – why this would be a major escalation”
By Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin On Sunday June 22, Donald Trump announced that several of Iran’s most important nuclear facilities had been “completely obliterated” and that the country’s nuclear weapons programme had been crippled. Iran denied this and vowed to retaliate. The Iranian parliament has already given approval … Continue reading “How might the US-Iran conflict escalate? Expert Q&A”
By Mira Al Hussein, Research Fellow at the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, University of Edinburgh When Israel assassinated a number of senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists on June 13, there was an initial euphoria among some ruling elites in the Gulf. They saw it as a … Continue reading “Gulf States want no winner in the conflict between Israel and Iran”
By Sarah Burns, Associate Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology In the wake of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, many congressional Democrats and a few Republicans have objected to President Donald Trump’s failure to seek congressional approval before conducting military operations.They note that Article 1 of the … Continue reading “Presidents of both parties have launched military action without Congress declaring war − Trump’s bombing of Iran is just the latest”
By Christian Emery, Associate Professor in International Politics, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, UCL The US president, Donald Trump, is weighing up whether to join Israel in attacking Iran. The fact he is even contemplating such a move is, in my opinion, a direct consequence of his 2018 decision to tear … Continue reading “Trump’s first term lies at the heart of escalation between Iran and Israel”
By Clive Jones, Professor of Regional Security, Durham University Operation rising lion has been a concerted effort by the Israel Defense Forces to degrade Iran’s nuclear programme. Launched on June 13, the operation has targeted key nuclear installations, logistical hubs and Iranian nuclear scientists, key intelligence and military personal. Israel has justified the attack by … Continue reading “How might Israel attack Iran’s underground nuclear plant? A 2024 raid in Syria could be a template”