The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV), and with Just World Educational as a co-sponsor, held an international webinar on August 11, 2026, entitled “The War on Iran, International Law and Pathways to Peace in Southwest Asia.”
The webinar brought together experts and analysts in international law, geopolitics, international political economy, international affairs and Middle Eastern studies to examine the legal, humanitarian and geopolitical dimensions of the war against Iran, its wider consequences for Southwest Asia, and possible pathways toward peace and regional stability.
The webinar opened with remarks by Mahdi Mohebirad, Chief Executive Officer of the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, who introduced ODVV and highlighted the organization’s work in the field of human rights and its engagement with international mechanisms. He emphasized the human consequences of war, particularly its impact on civilians, families and children. He also addressed the compounded effects of war and economic pressure on civilian populations and stressed the importance of economic cooperation, trade, investment, energy and regional transportation in creating shared interests and strengthening dialogue among countries in the region.
Professor Alexander Azadgan, a professor specializing in geopolitics, international political economy and business studies, addressed the question “Is the Trump-Israeli War on Iran Against International Law?” He examined the legal framework governing the use of force and argued that military action against Iran raises serious questions under international law and the framework established by the UN Charter. He also stressed the importance of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, while warning about the weakening of the international legal order and multilateral institutions.
Claudio Celani, Editor of Executive Intelligence Review and the EIR Strategic Alert Service in Europe, spoke on “Why it is Essential We Return to the Westphalian System.” He emphasized the importance of state sovereignty, respect for the rights of nations and the principles underlying the international system. Celani argued that sustainable peace in Southwest Asia requires more than political agreements and should be supported by a broader development perspective. He highlighted potential areas of regional cooperation, including water and energy infrastructure and development corridors, as ways of creating shared interests and reducing tensions.
Helena Cobban, Founder and Director of Just World Educational and an international affairs and Middle East analyst, addressed “The War on Iran and the Search for a Path to Peace in Southwest Asia.” She stressed the need to move toward a sustainable framework for peace and discussed measures including guarantees against renewed aggression, accountability and stronger regional mechanisms. Cobban also proposed the idea of a “Peace Zone in the Persian Gulf” involving regional countries and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, joint projects and restoring the role of the United Nations and the principles of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security.
Dr. Jabbar Aslani, Ph.D. in International Law and Visiting Professor at Shahid Motahari University, spoke on “The Role of International Law and International Institutions in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding under the UN Charter: Challenges and Solutions.” He examined the role of international legal and institutional mechanisms in preventing conflict and emphasized the importance of early warning, preventive diplomacy, legal assessment, escalation management and peace consolidation. He stressed that the credibility of the international legal system should not be measured only by its ability to condemn war, but also by its capacity to prevent war from occurring in the first place.
The final speaker, Peter Ford, former British Ambassador to Syria and Bahrain and a Middle East analyst, addressed “How the War of America and Israel on Iran has Fractured Europe and the Arab World.” He examined the impact of the war on relations between Europe and the United States as well as relations among Arab states. Ford highlighted divisions within Europe and differing positions among regional countries, including changing calculations among some Arab states regarding US policies. He also drew attention to the humanitarian consequences of economic pressure and sanctions against Iran and warned about the broader regional consequences of continued confrontation.
During the concluding part of the webinar, speakers and participants exchanged views on issues including the role of the Gulf states, regional security arrangements, the role of the United States and the importance of continuing international dialogue.
Overall, the webinar provided a platform for international dialogue on the war against Iran from the perspectives of international law, international humanitarian law, humanitarian consequences and geopolitics. Speakers emphasized the need to protect civilians, strengthen conflict-prevention mechanisms, preserve the role of multilateral institutions and move from confrontational approaches toward greater regional cooperation.
