Iran Learns about Reciprocity

 

One thing I found somewhat amusing in today's news was the anger of the Iranian authorities at the takeover by the Americans of an Iranian 'consulate' in the north of Iraq and the arrest of the 'diplomats' manning it. The irony of the Iranians, of all people, defending the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises seems to have been lost on most commentators.

Having enjoyed their protection for most of my career, I have a healthy respect for the Vienna Convention and the related treaties and customs, and would normally object to any violations of them. However, the ultimate strength of international law, whether written or unwritten, derives from the principle of 'reciprocity'. States usually respect the obligations arising from the laws they are bound by for the simple reason that if they didn't they wouldn't be in a position to expect the other parties to respect those obligations in their own regard. Most international law students learn this on day one of their courses. Iran has just learned it today.