OONA HATHAWAY - IS THE IRAN WAR ILLEGAL? | ON TRUMP, INTERNATIONAL LAW & THE UN CHARTER.

In this episode of Frontlines & Backrooms, we speak with Professor Oona Hathaway (Yale Law School), one of the leading experts on international law and the use of force, and a former advisor at the Pentagon.At a moment when the foundations of the post-1945 international order are being openly challenged, we examine whether the United States is violating the rules — or rewriting them in real time.We discuss the legality of the Iran war, the absence of an imminent threat, and what it means when powerful states act outside the UN Charter without meaningful response from the international community.From the silence of allies, to the role of Israel in shaping reactions, to the risks of returning to a world where the use of force is left to states — this is a conversation about power, law, and the future of the global order.Learn more about Professor Oona Hathaway’s work:https://law.yale.edu/oona-hathaway00:00 Call to Support00:23 Introduction01:46 U.S. — violating the rules or rewriting them02:38 No imminent threat from Iran03:11 Iran war as a violation of the UN Charter03:56 Venezuela, nuclear strikes & Ukraine — pattern of violations04:26 China and the South China Sea05:10 UN failure to respond05:58 Why states are afraid to call out Trump06:43 The role of Israel07:14 Why there is little sympathy for Iran08:01 Unpredictability of U.S. leadership10:11 The post-WWII system explained11:42 Why we cannot return to a world of unrestricted force13:12 Why major powers supported the ban on war14:40 Power and the system15:10 Rules must apply to everyone16:03 Law vs power16:54 Why this is not lawful self-defense17:32 Threats against civilian targets18:39 Inside the U.S. Department of Defense19:32 Military culture and the law20:04 Can that culture survive?22:34 Internal tensions within the Pentagon24:07 What is collateral damage?25:01 Military mistakes and responsibility27:12 When collateral damage is lawful27:56 Technology and the changing definition of civilians29:39 Israel’s interpretation of participation in conflict34:09 UN Security Council and veto power35:16 Why the system was designed this way36:05 Structural paralysis39:19 Why veto reform is unrealistic41:10 “Board of Peace” explained41:58 Fear of parallel institutions42:10 Can new institutions replace the UN?43:03 Rethinking global governance44:47 Failure to respond enables escalation47:23 Is the system still viable?48:26 Why unilateral force leads to disaster49:08 The role of middle powers50:46 Five quick questions51:46 What comes next