Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist, Diplomat, Editor, Analyst, Advisor, Consultant, Researcher at Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center, and Non-Resident Fellow of CCG. (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).

In an increasingly polarized and destabilized world, the Middle East once again stands at the brink of crisis. Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and scientists, covert operations within Iranian territory, and constant threats of military escalation have raised profound concerns about regional and global peace. These aggressive actions not only violate the United Nations Charter and international law but also represent a calculated campaign to provoke, destabilize, and dominate—while diverting attention from Israel's atrocities in Gaza and its expansionist ambitions in the broader region.

Iran is a sovereign, ancient nation with a proud civilization that has enriched human history for thousands of years. It has the right—enshrined in the UN Charter—to live in peace, maintain territorial integrity, and pursue technological development, including civil nuclear capabilities. Israeli attacks on Iranian soil, and its ongoing campaign of aggression, are not just dangerous and destabilizing—they are a direct act of war.

A Clear Violation of the UN Charter

According to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter:

“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

Israel’s repeated military operations against Iranian scientists, infrastructure, and territory—without international mandate or provocation—are a flagrant breach of this principle. The international community must not stay silent in the face of such clear violations. The principle of sovereignty cannot be selectively applied. If Israel’s actions are not condemned and checked, it sets a terrifying precedent: powerful nations may act with impunity, while weaker ones are denied justice.

Israel’s Objectives Behind Attacking Iran

Israel’s motives in attacking Iran extend far beyond the alleged concern over nuclear development. Beneath the surface lies a calculated agenda with dangerous geopolitical implications.

1. Eradication of Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities

Israel has long claimed that it views a nuclear-capable Iran as an existential threat. Yet Iran has consistently reiterated that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes—civil energy production, medical research, and industrial use. It is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and has allowed inspections.

Targeted assassinations of Iranian scientists and sabotage of nuclear sites are not acts of self-defense—they are illegal, immoral, and provocative. They aim to deny Iran a basic sovereign right: the right to pursue peaceful technological advancement.

2. Diverting Attention from Gaza and the West Bank

As global condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza intensifies, Tel Aviv seeks distraction. By striking Iran, Israel shifts headlines and political discourse away from its systematic atrocities against Palestinians. While bombs fall on Iranian soil, Israeli forces continue a brutal campaign in Gaza and the West Bank—killing civilians, demolishing homes, destroying hospitals, and committing what many international experts now call genocide.

The strategic timing of these provocations is no accident. Israel's attacks on Iran serve as a smokescreen to obscure its crimes and facilitate the complete occupation and ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the West Bank.

3. Destabilizing the Region and Expanding the War

Provoking Iran is also a tactic to inflame the entire Middle East. By drawing Iran into open conflict, Israel hopes to regionalize the war—dragging in Arab states and possibly NATO forces, thereby creating chaos that would justify even more aggressive Israeli military action.

A destabilized Middle East serves Israel’s broader security doctrine: keep the region weak, divided, and distracted so that Israeli power remains unchecked.

4. A Cover to Destroy Al-Aqsa and Rebuild the Jewish Temple

One of the most disturbing objectives attributed to extremist elements in Israel is the desire to demolish the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and replace it with a Jewish temple. For many Zionist extremists, this is not just a dream—it is a planned political and religious goal. By escalating tensions with Iran and provoking retaliation, Israel might hope to use war as a cover for such an outrage, knowing full well that such an act would ignite a firestorm throughout the Muslim world.

The Broader Zionist Expansionist Agenda

Israel’s actions must be understood within the context of a broader ideological project. Zionist extremists within the Israeli establishment have long harbored expansionist dreams: to establish "Greater Israel" by occupying neighboring Arab lands and displacing indigenous populations.

First, they targeted Palestinians, with the occupation of their land, denial of rights, and now, the apparent goal of erasure.

Then come Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt—all perceived as either threats or opportunities.

In the longer run, even non-Arab states like Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan have been discussed in far-right Israeli circles as future targets—states that must be weakened, fragmented, or neutralized to ensure Israeli hegemony in the region.

This is not mere speculation. It is grounded in ideological texts, political statements, and military doctrines that inform the behavior of the Israeli security state.

The United States: A Guilty Partner

It is impossible to separate Israeli aggression from American complicity. The United States is not merely a passive observer—it is a full partner in Israel’s actions.

The U.S. provides billions of dollars annually in military aid to Israel, including weapons, fighter jets, and missile systems used to kill civilians in Gaza and to threaten other nations like Iran.

At the United Nations, Washington repeatedly uses its veto power to block resolutions condemning Israeli actions—even when the rest of the world is unified in opposition. This includes blocking investigations into war crimes, calls for ceasefires, and demands for humanitarian access.

By shielding Israel from accountability, the U.S. not only undermines international law but becomes an enabler of crimes against humanity.

The American government must recognize that it cannot preach human rights abroad while financing oppression. Its credibility is at stake—not just in the Middle East, but globally.

Iran: A Nation of Resilience, Dignity, and Restraint

In stark contrast, Iran has exhibited remarkable restraint and patience in the face of relentless Israeli and Western provocations. Despite assassinations, sabotage, sanctions, and cyber warfare, Iran has maintained its commitment to diplomacy and international law.

Iran is not a perfect state—no nation is—but it is not the aggressor. It does not occupy other countries, it does not bombard civilian populations, and it does not impose apartheid. Iran has stood firm in defending its sovereignty, its people, and its right to self-determination.

Iran is not seeking war. But it will not accept humiliation. It will not allow foreign powers to dictate its future, deny its development, or threaten its survival.

The Urgent Need for Peace and Justice

At this critical juncture, the world must choose: will it stand by as Israel drags the region into yet another catastrophic war? Or will it uphold the principles of justice, law, and human dignity?

The international community must take bold steps:

Condemn Israeli aggression against Iran and other nations.

Call for an immediate halt to all Israeli military actions and provocations.

Support diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the West, including full recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Demand accountability for Israeli war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.

End the U.S. policy of blind support and enablement of Israel’s crimes.

A Hopeful Vision

Despite the darkness, there is still hope. Peace is possible—but it must be built on justice. The people of the region deserve to live without fear—Palestinians, Iranians, Israelis, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike.

We must speak the truth: Zionism, in its current militant form, is incompatible with peace. Occupation is not security. Ethnic cleansing is not self-defense. War is not the answer.

The future must be built not on missiles and walls, but on dialogue, mutual respect, and a commitment to shared humanity.

Let Iran live in peace. Let Palestinians live in dignity. Let justice, not vengeance, guide our actions.

Let the world say, with one voice: No to war. Yes to peace. Yes to sovereignty. Yes to humanity.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)