The Impact of United States Policies on the International Legal System in the Middle East: A Comparative Study of Iran and Iraq

Subject Areas :

Morteza Shahidi ¹ , ali bagheri zadeh ² , Ebrahim Anooshe ³

1 -
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Rafsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rafsanjan, Iran
3 - استادیار روابط بین الملل دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد رفسنجان

Received: 2025-05-13 Accepted : 2025-07-06 Published : 2025-07-16

Keywords: International law, America, Iran, Iraq,

Abstract :

This article analyzes the impact of US policies on the international legal system in the Middle East, with a special focus on Iran and Iraq. The main objective of this research is to conduct a comparative study of US policies towards the two countries and assess their legal consequences on the fundamental principles of international law. These principles include national sovereignty, the prohibition of the use of force, and the principles related to sanctions and military interventions. Using a descriptive-analytical research method, the article analyzes international documents, UN resolutions, and human rights reports and evaluates the legal consequences of US policies in different periods from the perspective of international law. In this regard, a case study of US policies in Iraq since the military invasion in 2003 and economic sanctions against Iran, especially after the country’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, constitute the main axes of the research. The results of this research show that unilateral policies and military interventions of the United States have led to violations of fundamental legal principles, weakening international institutions, and increasing distrust in the international legal system. This article specifically emphasizes the need to review US policies and move towards approaches based on multilateral cooperation and respect for national sovereignty and human rights.

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