28 February 2026- The Trump and Netanyahu administrations have launched a massive attack on Iran, using the alleged Iranian nuclear weapons programme as a partial justification. This attack takes place despite claims that the nuclear programme was “obliterated” during the Israeli and U.S. attacks last June and amidst repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a regime change in Iran. ICAN condemns the illegal attack by two nuclear-armed states, the United States and Israel, on Iran.
U.S. President Trump announced “major combat operations in Iran” and Israel indicated it was launching a pre-emptive attack on the country earlier today. In a statement shared on social media, President Trump indicated that this attack is taking place in part to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, though he also indicated that the nuclear programme was “obliterated” last June.
ICAN’s Executive Director, Melissa Parke condemned the attacks saying “These attacks are totally irresponsible and risk provoking further escalation as well as increasing the danger of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons. Military action is not a viable or long-term solution to prevent nuclear proliferation. All military action must stop immediately.”
Negotiations were ongoing just this past week to address Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran is not currently assessed by international agencies or even the United States to have an ongoing nuclear weapons programme.
This dangerous escalation has undermined the prospects for success and risks a broader war further threatening civilian lives throughout the region.
International treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which have provisions for verifiable nuclear disarmament and non-diversion of nuclear material for weapons, are essential and sustainable tools to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Ms. Parke continued “The solution to ending both the risk of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons is for all countries, including the nuclear-armed states, such as the United States and Israel, to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – the TPNW is the best way to ensure nuclear weapons are never used and to remove any incentive for more countries to develop them.”
The US, Israel and Iran should join the TPNW without delay. For the US and Israel, the TPNW allows for nuclear-armed states to join and then verifiably dismantle their nuclear weapons within an initial period of 10 years. For Iran, it requires all states to uphold their current level of nuclear safeguards.
Reports indicate that these attacks will not be limited in scope and are already spreading through the region. The humanitarian consequences of wide-scale military action are as yet unknown, but likely to be significant.
