Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, South Tehran Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
Bachelor of Laws, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
4
Master of Science in Private Law, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22034/lc.2025.523898.1637
Abstract
The use of chemical weapons has consistently been among the clear violations of international humanitarian law throughout the last century, especially following World War I, where their use was explicitly prohibited by one of the established rules of international law. Nevertheless, during the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq extensively used such weapons against Iranian military and non-military targets. This study examines the legal status of the use of chemical weapons during the war from the perspective of international law, analyzing legal documents, institutional responses, and official reports using a descriptive-analytical approach. It also evaluates the international community’s capacity and the responses of relevant institutions. The findings indicate that Iraq’s use of chemical weapons was not only a clear violation of international legal norms but also highlighted the lack of a unified legal mechanism to address such crimes.This study emphasizes the necessity of strengthening international criminal law mechanisms, enhancing the role of international courts and institutions, and proposing practical legal strategies to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent the recurrence of such crimes.
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