Does Iran have a right to pre-emptively strike the US?

Question

We are clearly an immanent threat to them. Or are they not allowed to invoke the pre-emption doctrine?

Answer 1

The last time I checked, Iran was the country that expressed a desire in the passed to "wipe the US and Israel from the face of the earth." If anyone had a right to a pre-emptive strike it would be the U.S., though I don't see that as a likely scenario unless Iran acts first. If Iran were to strike any country right now, the entire world community would be on them like flies on sandpaper.

Answer 2

For it to be an iminient threat it has to be a threat that is somewhat new, the US has had multiple valid reasons and the capability to strike Iran for a long long time. The US hasn't had any recent developements which alter that basic fact.

So as far as pre-emption for the Iranians the answer is no (though an argument could be made that the storming of the US embassy was an act of war which is still ongoing and thus Iran could strike the US directly).

The US (or Iranian neighbors in general) could argue that the developement of a non peacefull Nuclear program would be a significant develope that drastically changes the regional balance of power and therefore pre-emptively strike Irans nuclear capabilities etc.

at elast thats my two cents

Answer 3

Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, which is against International Treaty. What they are doing violates international law.

Therefore, we have a right (and perhaps a duty) to stop them.

Iran has no legitimate, legal right to attack us. They are the ones who are in violation of the UN. If they want to continue on this path, they should withdraw from the UN, and openly abrogate the treaties they have signed.

Oh, but wait! I must be wrong. Iran would not want nukes because Islam is the religion of peace. When they say they want to wipe the U.S. and Israel off the map, I think they mean they want to send us some Christmas presents, or give us some cute little puppie doggies.

Answer 4

Yes, as for any country in the World.

To start a war, unfortunetly, the reasons are most often not godds one.

A war = no rights (don't cry or shout, it's just the facts).

If you go to war, it means 2 things: the negociations went bad (a failure) and you must continue the negociations by doing war...

Today, Pakistan just launched a short range missile in test (the kind that can have a nuke head). The question everyone should ask: WHY in 2006-2007 there's again a need to develop such weaponnery ???

Don't forget the US role in this "success"..

Answer 5

No...Iran is a threat to just about everyone else. In fact Iran committed an act of war against the US in 1979 when they took US citizens hostage and violated international law by invading US soil...the US Embassy.

In my opinion at least we have the right and have had that right to attack and destroy Iran for the last 27 years.

Answer 6

They have every right...and so do all the other countries in the world. The U.S is forcing their culture on everyone else, at gunpoint if need be. "You must have democracy because we said so". So anyone with any semblance of knowledge knows that democracy dosen't work in either Africa or the Mideast, this gives them all reason to fear the U.S and perfect reason to hit them with a pre-emptive strike...provided they can defeat them, otherwise you simply become the next on the line for the worst form of government in the world.

Please forward all hate mail to [e-mail]

Answer 7

No, they do not have a right to make a strike at the U.S., we have not threatened them in anyway except to request sanctions against them to make them stop trying to make WMDs!
I'm not sure that any of the countries around them have any influence with them in trying to make them not make that strike against the U.S. The countries around them know what would happen if they did strike at the U.S., we could never let it go, we would strike back with more force than they have & those around them would suffer from the fall-out. I'm sure they don't want that!

Answer 8

Russia. provided that our leaders are inept at dealing with them and our impact is diminishing, they are going to be arising. they have allready developed a ICBM missle which could penetrate our destiny missile shelter. that's extra of a weapon of mass destruction than Iraq ever had.

Answer 9

A very good question, but as another put it, Iran is not complying.

At the same time how would we feel if Canada, Mexico, Europe were more powerful then us, we were trying to build a weapon to avert an invasion and they kept telling us no, just listen to us?

We wouldn't like it one bit.

Answer 10

I believe you meant "imminent", but nonetheless we are currently not and imminent threat to them. We are protecting the region and Iran is actively defying every major power by ignoring UN resolutions.

Jim - debatepolicy.com