State Department Belatedly Issues Memo Regarding Attack on Iran

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Friday, May 8, 2026
Author: 
Bruce Zagaris
Volume: 
42
Issue: 
6
Abstract: 

On April 21, 2026, Reed D. Rubinstein, the Legal Adviser to the United States (U.S.) Department of State issued a memorandum (hereafter the Rubinstein memo), justifying the air attack on Iran (called /posts/116147082884192486">Operation Epic Fury).[1] This article discusses the memo and critical responses to it from the international legal community.