Legitimacy and International Legal Consequences of Attacks on Peaceful Nuclear Facilities: A Case Study of the Fordow Facility
Keywords:
Use of force, self-defense, peaceful nuclear facilities, international responsibility of states, non-proliferationAbstract
This article evaluates the legitimacy and international legal consequences of a military attack against peaceful nuclear facilities through a case study of the Fordow nuclear facility. The central question is how such an attack should be assessed under the framework of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law, and what implications it may have for the responsibility of the attacking state and the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The theoretical framework is grounded in the prohibition of the use of force, the principles of necessity and proportionality in self-defense, the principle of distinction, and the obligations arising from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The research adopts an analytical-comparative methodology based on international legal instruments, decisions of the International Court of Justice, and the practice of the United Nations Security Council. The findings indicate that such an attack lacks a valid legal basis and simultaneously constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter, the rules of international humanitarian law, and non-proliferation obligations, thereby giving rise to extensive international responsibility. The article concludes by proposing normative and institutional measures aimed at safeguarding the immunity and protection of peaceful nuclear facilities.
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