Bombing Iran: Self-Defence or a Lawless Attack?

Has the United States & Israel broken international law by bombing Iran?

Or was it an act of Self-Defence?

 

Professor Marko Milanovic, a leading expert in international law joins Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC to assess the legality of the recent Israeli and US military actions against Iranian nuclear facilities. 

 

From Article 51 of the UN Charter to the legacy of the Caroline Doctrine, the discussion dives deep into the legal justifications for self-defence, the meaning of "imminent threat," and whether international law permits pre-emptive force in the face of existential danger.

 

Professor Milanovic challenges political and legal narratives from NATO, UK politicians, and beyond—exploring whether Israel and the U.S. were acting within the bounds of law, or eroding the very norms that exist to prevent war.

 

You can read Professor Milanovic’s recent blog post here.

 

—

Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. 

 

With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.

 

What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?

 

Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.

 

Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.

 

Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.

 

Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. 

 

Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.

 

If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.