At a time when part of the Western media current is seeking to downplay the realities surrounding the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, signs of solidarity and awakening among the world’s academic elites have become visible.
In this context, a number of universities and intellectual circles in Europe and the United States, instead of remaining silent, have adopted analytical and critical positions regarding these developments.
In this regard, Mohammad Javad Ostadi, director of the Razavi School of Art Mega Project, in the framework of elite diplomacy, sent letters to international thinkers requesting clarification of the legal, political and humanitarian dimensions of these developments. The responses received contained analyses that went beyond expressions of sympathy and reflected precise assessments from the perspective of international law and global politics.
Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, professor in global thought and comparative philosophies at SOAS University of London and fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, emphasized in his response the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth in the face of power.
He described the recent US-Israeli attacks as illegal and criminal and analyzed them within the framework of the policies of the US and Israeli regime. Adib-Moghaddam also referred to the steadfastness of the Iranian people and stressed the necessity for the academic community to document and narrate this experience.
Another expert, Vijay Prashad, historian and director of the Tricontinental research institute, addressed the strategic dimensions of the developments in his assessment.
Referring to ambiguity surrounding the military objectives of the United States, the Indian historian warned against the consequences of these actions and stressed that Iran’s resilience has challenged existing power equations. According to him, this resistance could strengthen Iran’s position in diplomacy and international politics.
Arlie Russell Hochschild, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, also focused in her response on the legal dimensions of the issue, stating that the US-Israeli aggression lacked any authorization from the United Nations Security Council and therefore constituted an illegal act under international law.
She also referred to the existence of widespread opposition among academic elites and segments of American society and spoke of their sympathy with the Iranian people.
On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran, during which then Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials were martyred.
Iranian Armed Forces responded with weeks of missile and drone strikes targeting American and Israeli military positions in the occupied territories and the Persian Gulf region, inflicting heavy damages in 100 waves of counterattacks over a period of 40 days.
Iran’s retaliation also featured the country’s closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz to vessels belonging to enemies and their allies.