Global Outrage, Europe's Silence and a Tragedy Unfolding

Geneva: When emeritus professor Avi Shlaim of Oxford University told journalist Karan Thapar that US president Donald Trump was behaving like a “mafioso,” in league with “serial liar”, Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it took less than 24 hours for events to seemingly vindicate his damning assessment.

“I am utterly shocked that an American President would talk about assassinating a head of state,” Shlaim remarked. “This is the kind of language used by mob bosses, not by leaders of civilized nations.”

After days of indecision reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Trump launched a full-scale military strike on Iran's key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan early Sunday.

“The US military carried out massive precision strikes on the Iranian regime’s three major nuclear sites,” Trump announced. “These facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – were the heart of a destructive enterprise. They’ve now been completely obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must choose peace. If not, future strikes will be even more severe.”

He went on to "thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu" for what many are calling a disastrous escalation.

Iran's foreign minister, Sayyid Abbas Araghchi, issued a nuanced response. “Trump was elected on a platform of ending America's costly forever wars. Instead, he has betrayed Iran, violated diplomatic norms, and deceived his own voters by yielding to the will of a war criminal who exploits American lives and wealth to serve Israel’s agenda.”

The international community has already accused Israel of war crimes. The International Court of Justice and other human rights bodies have charged Netanyahu's government with a prolonged campaign of systematic violence in Gaza, where over 55,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, which took the lives of more than 1,000 Israelis. Gaza, now reduced to rubble, faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, marked by famine and mass displacement—conditions the United Nations has condemned in the strongest terms.

Compounding these concerns, Israel, a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is believed to possess over 1,000 nuclear warheads. On June 13, it launched what Iran calls an “unprovoked war based on lies,” further inflaming tensions.

'It wasn’t just Iran that was bombed'

“This wasn’t just an attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,” said Araghchi during a press conference in Istanbul. “It was a direct assault on the UN Charter, the NPT, and the entire framework of international law.”

The Iranian foreign minister also pointed to what he called the “Orwellian double-speak” of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Its Director-General Rafael Grossi, he claimed, made ambiguous statements about Iran’s uranium enrichment – saying it had reached 60%, but that there was no indication of bomb-making intentions.

“The IAEA and its director have enabled this violence,” Araghchi stated. “Their inconsistent messaging paved the way for Israeli and American aggression.”

Also read: US-Israeli War on Iran: Tactical Success May Not Add Up to Strategic Victory

European complicity and deafening silence

European powers – signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) along with Iran – also came under fire. “The UK, Germany, and the EU have behaved like accomplices,” said Araghchi, noting that peace talks in Geneva were still ongoing when the strikes occurred.

“Again, we were in the middle of negotiations with the Europeans,” he said grimly.

A 21st century tragedy unfolding

As the world watches the crisis escalate, the question remains: are we witnessing the beginning of a new global conflict?

Iran, a nation with over 5,000 years of civilisational history, is unlikely to remain silent in the face of such aggression. Its leaders have already cited multiple violations of the UN Charter, including Article 2, Paragraph 4, which prohibits the use of force against the sovereignty of another nation.

“This act of war breaches UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and threatens global peace,” said Araghchi. “We remind the UN, the Security Council, the IAEA, and all relevant bodies of their obligation to respond swiftly and decisively.”

He added with a warning: “Silence in the face of this blatant aggression will plunge the world into unprecedented danger and chaos.”

Even as Iran pleads for the restoration of international norms, many fear the world has entered an era of impunity. After abstaining from multiple UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally reached out to Iran’s president, calling for de-escalation.

But in a world led by “mafioso rulers,” as professor Shlaim warned, it remains unclear whether the rule of law will prevail – or if it has already been buried beneath the rubble of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Ravi Kanth Devarakonda reports from Geneva.

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