Israel must be held accountable for its actions

Call it war, regime change or self-defense, the 45-year conflict between Iran and Israel, along with the United States, persists.

One of the key flashpoints has been Iran’s nuclear program, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued is intended to create weapons and claims is an existential threat to Israel.

But for over three decades, Iran has consistently and unequivocally asserted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a decree in 2003 banning weapons of mass destruction. And in 2007, U.S. intelligence confirmed that Iran officially ceased its efforts to develop nuclear weapons technology that year.

The 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which ended in June following the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, may have altered Iran’s strategy toward pursuing nuclear weapons.

Though some U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, claimed the attacks destroyed the three Iranian nuclear sites, reports indicated that initial U.S. intelligence found the bombs primarily damaged infrastructure, possibly setting Iran’s program back by a few months.

The core components of the nuclear program were deep underground and not completely destroyed. They could be reconstructed within six months, according to media reports.

Netanyahu, along with supporters in the United States, NATO, the mainstream media, and on social media, has repeatedly raised two questions: Does Iran have the right to develop its nuclear program, and does Israel have the right to take action against it?

Keep in mind, Israel is estimated to have 90 nuclear weapons, with material for 200, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture is essential.

Does Iran deserve the violence it faces, considering its nuclear program has not caused any fatalities?

Compare that with Israel, which since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack has uprooted over 2 million Palestinians and killed more than 100,000 people, many of them women and children, according to some estimates of the war in Gaza. And recent reports of starvation mean more children and adults will likely die.

In 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally pulled the United States out of Iran nuclear deal, an action that disrupted years of diplomacy by the Obama administration. Trump imposed harsh sanctions, leaving Iran with few choices besides advancing its nuclear program.

The withdrawal also damaged trust in future American commitments, which Iran has pointed to during recent talks with Europe since Trump came back into office.

After the 12-day war, several Iranian strategists have suggested that Iran — like North Korea — should pursue nuclear weapons as a security measure, citing the historical fates of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.

This raises the question: Do you criticize Iran for its peaceful nuclear program? If so, what about Israel, which seems to be exempt from international and human rights laws?

Does Israel have the right to defend itself, target Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, or harm innocent civilians? Every nation is entitled to self-defense, but Israel does not have the right to bomb Iran or assassinate military figures and scientists.

Consider this comparison:

Russia considers NATO a threat. When Ukraine sought entry into NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion, which much of the West objected to. But if Russia was wrong, aren’t Israel and the U.S. also wrong when they attack Iran?

The answer seems obvious, which leads to just one conclusion: Israel and the United States should be held accountable for their illegal bombing of Iran’s nuclear program.

This is a contributed opinion column. Mohammed Khaku is past president of Al Ahad Islamic Center in Allentown. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. Do you have a perspective to share? Learn more about how we handle guest opinion submissions at themorningcall.com/opinions.