Vatican Foreign Minister Condemns Attack on Iran, Warns of Danger of Preemptive War for World Peace

Condemning the attack on Iran, the Vatican's foreign minister emphasized that justifying preventive war could undermine the world's legal order and destroy the path to resolving crises through diplomacy.

Following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the military attacks of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Vatican's top diplomat warned of the dangerous consequences of such actions and emphasized the need to return to diplomacy to resolve disputes.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated in an interview with the institution's official media outlet that the increasing reliance of countries on military power instead of international political and legal mechanisms could lead the world into a cycle of violence and instability. In the interview, he expressed concern about recent trends in international relations, saying that the principles that were formed after World War II to prevent major wars are now more vulnerable to weakening than ever before.

Referring to these attacks and the argument put forward about “preventive war,” Parolin warned that such an approach, if accepted as a principle, could have uncontrollable consequences for global security. “If countries were to claim the right to preemptive war based on their own criteria and without a supranational legal framework, the whole world would be at risk of conflagration,” he said in part of the conversation.

The Vatican Secretary of State continued his remarks by emphasizing that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue and multilateral mechanisms. According to him, international organizations and frameworks such as the UN Charter were formed with the aim of preventing the repetition of the tragedies of major wars, and abandoning these principles could weaken the international legal system.

Criticizing the increasing military approaches in the foreign policy of some countries, he stated: "The idea that peace can be achieved with weapons is false. Regardless of who is right about the causes of a war, war always brings sacrifice and destruction and will have devastating effects on civilians."

Parolin also lamented the trend of replacing the "rule of law" with the "law of power," warning that such a development could pose a serious crisis for the global order based on international law.

The Vatican official also referred to the humanitarian consequences of conflicts in the region, saying that wars not only destroy the infrastructure and economies of countries, but also affect the lives of millions of civilians. He added that new conflicts in the Middle East have once again exposed the nations of the region to violence and insecurity.

Recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets have reportedly been aimed at curbing the country's missile and nuclear programs, a claim Tehran has denied, calling them a violation of international law. The military operations have sparked a wave of political and diplomatic backlash around the world, raising concerns about a wider conflict in the region.

In response to a question about the protests and internal developments in Iran, Parolin also emphasized that the people's wishes and demands must be taken into account and that the possibility of expressing views within the framework of the law should be provided. However, he clearly stated that foreign military intervention cannot be the solution to such internal issues.

He said: "The aspirations of the Iranian people must be heard and their right to freedom of expression must be guaranteed within the framework of the law. This is a matter of deep concern, but at the same time, one must ask oneself: does anyone really believe that a solution to these internal problems can be achieved through launching missiles and bombs?"

Overall, the Vatican's recent stance reflects the religious institution's serious concern about the spread of military approaches to resolving international crises. Vatican diplomacy, which usually comments cautiously on military conflicts, has this time warned in a clear tone about the consequences of preventive wars and emphasized the need for countries to return to the path of negotiation, international law, and multilateral cooperation.