Pugwash statement on Iran-US tensions
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14 January 2020
The killing of Gen. Qassem Suleimani is not justified under international law. This attack was a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and an act of war against Iran. It has increased tension and raised the risk of conflict in an already difficult situation. The tragic unintentional downing of the Ukrainian aircraft by an Iranian missile highlights the peril that can arise at moments of intense crisis.
The American rejection of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) has contributed to this escalating confrontation and has made it more, not less, difficult to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. Salvaging the JCPOA would help defuse this ongoing crisis while addressing nonproliferation
Pugwash appeals to all parties to avoid further escalatory steps that could lead to a disastrous conflict and calls on the international community and the UN urgently to seek a peaceful resolution of the current dangerous situation.
