What would make an illegal war morally defensible? By Gareth EvansIn international relations, manifestly illegal government action can sometimes be morally defensible. Nonetheless, can one still argue that, whatever the law, the monstrous crimes of Iran’s theocratic leadership justify its military decapitation? The threat to international law lies not in its occasional breach — that happens in all legal systems, sometimes for the best of reasons — but in its contemptuous dismissal. And based on what we have seen so far, Trump and Netanyahu face an uphill battle in arguing any such case.

Source: Taipei Times March 07, 2026 17:26 UTC