SCANDINAVIAN LEADERS QUESTION LEGALITY OF US-ISRAEL STRIKES ON IRAN

ISTANBUL, March 2 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Scandinavian leaders have questioned the legality of recent United States (US) and Israeli attacks on Iran, raising doubts over their compliance with international legal principles, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Monday that the attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran are not in line with international law

Store also denounced Iran's retaliatory strikes against other neighbouring countries, according to broadcaster NRK.

"We strongly condemn these countries being targeted and civilians being affected there. The economy, people, and civilians are being drawn into this," he added.

Store described the situation in the Middle East as "very serious."

"There is a big war going on in the Middle East. People are being killed in many countries, especially in Iran, which has been attacked. 

“But we are getting this escalation that we are seeing, Iran has the capacity to fight back," he added.

He also reaffirmed that he does not fear Norway would be involved militarily, as they "do not have bases in this region."

Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also raised doubts over their compliance with international legal principles.

"It is a very difficult situation with clear conflicts of goals, but at the current stage it is difficult to see that this use of force has support in international law," Stenergard told Radio Sweden when asked whether the US had complied with international law in its joint operation with Israel against Iran.

She stressed the need to stand up for the preservation of the rules and norms that govern the conduct of states toward one another.

"There is a very clear conflict of objectives where, on the one hand, we have a terrible regime that must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

“On the other hand, all use of force must be in accordance with international law. If we see a development that departs from that, then there is a risk that other countries will claim new rights for themselves and in other ways pose a danger,” Stenergard added.

A joint US-Israeli military campaign launched Saturday has already killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In response, Tehran has carried out drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US assets in Gulf countries.

The US and Israel have so far indicated that the attacks will continue until the objectives are met, which include regime change in the Islamic Republic.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU