Abstract: The 2026 US–Iran conflict raises basic questions about the legal limits on the use of force, the purpose and consequences of economic sanctions, the effectiveness of diplomatic negotiation and the distribution of power in the international system. This conceptual legal-policy review addresses these questions through the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law, the law of the sea, the scholarly literature on sanctions, and regional diplomacy. It separates legal rules from the political arguments advanced by states and stresses that the lawfulness of any particular military operation turns on facts, evidence and applicable law that public reporting alone cannot settle. Relevant jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice, including the Oil Platforms case between Iran and the United States, is used to frame the analysis of self-defence. The paper also considers the economic and humanitarian effects of sanctions, including the risk that broad restrictions harm civilian welfare and third-country commerce through over-compliance. Drawing on research into the durability of ceasefires, the paper argues that diplomatic arrangements are more likely to last when they contain verifiable commitments, reciprocal incentives, clear sequencing, maritime confidence-building measures and credible channels for resolving disputes. It proposes a seven-part framework for evaluating a durable settlement that integrates legal clarity, reciprocity, verification, humanitarian safeguards and regional participation. The review concludes that international legitimacy and strategic stability reinforce each other: coercive measures may generate leverage, but lasting security requires negotiated arrangements grounded in law and supported by institutions.
Keywords: US–Iran conflict; international law; UN Charter; use of force; economic sanctions; diplomacy; conflict resolution; global governance.
Title: The US–Iran Conflict: International Law, Economic Sanctions, Diplomatic Negotiations and the Transformation of Global Power
Author: Dr. Chong Kuan Git, Dr. P. Ravindran Pathmanathan, Dr. Venkatesh Karanam
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
Vol. 14, Issue 2, October 2026 - March 2027
Page No: 98-104
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 22-October-2026
Amendment Date: 27-October-2026
