Vatican condemns US and Israeli attacks on Iran: 'Preventive wars' cannot be waged

(Patria) - The Vatican's top diplomat warned on Wednesday that the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran undermine international law and, in an unusually direct criticism of the military campaign, added that nations have no right to wage "preventive wars".

"If states were allowed the right to a 'preventive war'... the whole world could be in danger of going up in flames," said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, in an interview with Vatican News.

Asked about the US-Israeli attacks, now in their fifth day, Parolin replied that they have caused "a weakening of international law that is truly alarming."

"The rule of force has replaced the force of law, with the belief that peace can only come after the enemy is destroyed," the cardinal told Vatican media.