International law: Who in Australia cares?

July 4, 2025

The same applies exactly in Australia. My letter to all mainstream media in Australia follows. Only Crikey published it.

And so the Australian Government, supine to the US as usual, after deferring, now announces support for the US bombings in Iran, actions clearly contrary to international law.

Article 2(4) of the 1945 UN Charter states: “Prohibition of Force: Members must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the UN’s purposes.”

Evidence for Iran developing nuclear weaponry is very weak. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been making the charge that such development is imminent since 1992. Iran has declared no intention of it developing such, and indeed has placed a fatwa on their possession. The recent IAEA inspection was a long way short of saying that they were doing so. The only nuclear weaponry held in the Middle East is that held illegally, therefore not subject to IAEA inspections, by Israel.

Australia — from Vietnam to Iraq and now to Iran — in supporting the actions of the US, has consistently abrogated its responsibility.